Follow usChinese authorities have called off two scheduled football matches between Argentina and other national teams in China following Lionel Messi’s absence from a match in Hong Kong while playing for Inter Miami.
The cancelled matches, originally planned for Hangzhou against Nigeria and Beijing against Ivory Coast in March, disappointed fans in China. Messi’s absence from Inter Miami’s match against a Hong Kong XI sparked frustration among Chinese supporters. The Argentine captain cited a groin injury for his non-participation.
However, Chinese fans expressed dissatisfaction when Messi appeared as a substitute in a subsequent match against Vissel Kobe in Japan just three days later.
Argentina’s friendly against Nigeria next month has been CANCELLED by Chinese authorities 🚨
After Leo Messi didn’t play against Hong Kong XI for Inter Miami, China cancelled the friendly after believing he showed no respect to the people of Hong Kong.🤯https://t.co/GPvU4ZhxtG
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) February 9, 2024
The Beijing Football Association announced that they currently have no plans to host the match involving Lionel Messi. Additionally, the Hangzhou match cancellation was attributed to undisclosed reasons by the local sports bureau, stating that the necessary conditions for the event were not met.
In Hong Kong, fans reacted with jeers towards Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham and demanded refunds after Messi did not play. Event organizers, Tatler Asia, have pledged to provide a 50% refund to disappointed spectators.
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