U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have detained an Argentinian professional soccer player while he was traveling with his American club in Florida, team officials said Friday. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Argentinian professional soccer player Matías Pourrain has been detained by U.S. immigration officials in Florida while traveling with his American team, club officials said Friday.
Pourrain, a 34-year-old midfielder for Club de Lyon FC of the National Independent Soccer Association, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at Fort Lauderdale Airport on Thursday while preparing to board a domestic flight to Los Angeles, the team said in a social media post.
"Matías was not attempting to enter or leave the United States. He was simply traveling from one U.S. city to another," the statement read.
Pourrain "is not a criminal," the team said in pleading for help to secure his release.
