Spanish pop superstar Alejandro Sanz will not be allowed to perform in a state-owned stadium in Venezuela after making comments which criticised president Hugo Chavez.
Chavez - a self-described socialist revolutionary - doesn't take well to criticism, openly lashing out at journalists and foreign politicians, as well as high-profile critics of his increasingly autocratic government. His gripe with Sanz stems from comments made in 2004, when the singer suggested that Chavez prevented a referendum related to an election recall.The stadium is situated in a university in the capital Caracas, with the Higher Education minister Luis Acuna commenting, "If an artist comes to Venezuela to rail against Chavez, against (Chavez's political) movement, how do you think the people of this country would respond if he were to be allowed to use (the stadium)?" He added that he would be allowed to perform in a privately owned venue.
Sanz is one of the highest selling Latin Pop stars in the world, having won 14 Latin Grammy awards, 1 regular Grammy award and selling more than 21 million albums worldwide. His latest Latin Grammy came in August, when his album 'El Tren de los Momentos' was named Album of the Year.
