A scheduled Argentina soccer friendly in China slated for next month has been canceled, further fallout stemming from Lionel Messi’s absence in a club exhibition match in Hong Kong.
The World Cup champion Argentina team, led by Messi, had arranged a tour of China during the international break from March 18-26. Matches were planned against Nigeria in Hangzhou and Ivory Coast in Beijing. Interestingly, both opponents are coincidentally facing off in the Africa Cup of Nations final this weekend.
However, Messi, touring with his Inter Miami club, sparked outrage among fans in Hong Kong when he opted not to play against a local selection last Sunday, citing a groin injury. However, his excuse was met with skepticism after he played for thirty minutes on Wednesday in Tokyo against Vissel Kobe.
On Friday, the Hangzhou Sports Bureau announced the cancellation of the Argentina-Nigeria friendly, citing immature conditions for the match to proceed.
An Argentina Soccer Association official confirmed the suspension of the match and expressed the association’s efforts to find an alternate venue for the Nigeria game. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast’s friendly with Argentina in Beijing was confirmed to proceed as scheduled.
In the midst of this, organizers of the club friendly with Inter Miami in Hong Kong announced a 50% refund following backlash against Messi from both fans and local authorities.
The controversy surrounding Messi’s absence has extended beyond sports, with social media users expressing disappointment in mainland China, and state-run media reflecting on its broader impact.
Local organizers expressed disappointment over Messi’s absence and pledged to work with city authorities to resolve the issue and facilitate refunds for ticket holders.
Despite these efforts, questions linger over the incident, particularly after Messi’s appearance in Japan, prompting calls for an explanation from Inter Miami.
As the situation unfolds, Messi has addressed the disappointment, expressing regret and a desire to return to Hong Kong and mainland China to engage with fans.
The tour in Japan marked the conclusion of Inter Miami’s global promotional tour, with the team set to wrap up its tour on February 16th in Florida.
Reporting by The Related Press.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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