An Argentina national team friendly in China next month has been cancelled amid further fall-out from Lionel Messi failing to play in a club exhibition match in Hong Kong.
Argentina, captained by Messi, last month scheduled a tour of China during the international break from March 18-26.
Games had been lined up against Nigeria in Hangzhou and Ivory Coast in Beijing. Both opponents, coincidentally, meet in the Africa Cup final this weekend.
But Messi, on tour with Inter Miami, caused outrage among fans in Hong Kong when he didn’t play against a local selection last Sunday and remained on the bench.
The world’s best player said he had a groin injury but his excuse didn’t wash in Hong Kong after he played for 30 minutes on Wednesday in Tokyo against Vissel Kobe.
On Friday, the sports bureau in Hangzhou cancelled the Argentina-Nigeria friendly.
The fate of the Argentina-Ivory Coast friendly in Beijing was uncertain.
“Because of the reasons known to all, we’ve learned from supervising authorities that the conditions are immature for the match to go forward. Now it’s been decided that the match will be canceled,” the Hangzhou Sports Bureau announced on its official social media account.
(Photo by Gustavo Pagano/Getty Images)
An Argentina Football Association official told the Association Press it was aware the match was suspended and was looking for another venue to play Nigeria. The official said: “It’s a sensitive matter.”
Meanwhile, Hong Kong organisers of the club friendly with Inter Miami said they will offer a 50 per cent refund following days of backlash from angry fans and the city government.
Many social media users in mainland China expressed their disappointment over Messi’s no-show, with China’s state-run newspaper, the Global Times, publishing an editorial that said the impact of the controversy surrounding the soccer superstar “has far exceeded the realm of sports.”
In an Instagram post on Friday, local organisers, Tatler Asia, apologised to those who were disappointed by Messi’s absence and said it was upset by “the seeming lack of respect shown to the crowd.”
It reiterated it pleaded with Inter Miami management to urge Messi to explain to the spectators after it learned Messi, who was required to play for 45 minutes unless injured under their contract, would not be playing.
“He didn’t. The fact that Messi … played in Japan on February 7th feels like another slap in the face,” it said.
The organisers said they were in talks with the city government on how to resolve the issue and details of the refund arrangement would be announced by mid-March.
After the PR disaster erupted on Sunday, Messi addressed the widespread disappointment by explaining why he did not play in a news conference in Tokyo.
He also said it was regrettable he could not play in Hong Kong on Chinese social media platform Weibo. He said in the post that he hoped to return to Hong Kong to play for his fans and go to mainland China to share the joy of football.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
Agreed. It wasn't a conspiracy. Just abysmal PR management
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
The extent they supported Argentina made me sick, Wow. You need some perspective and some happier hobbies
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
I haven't misunderstood the market. I know how much the Chinese support Argentina. It was clearly evident how much support Argentina had against Australia in the friendly played in China recently. It was "almost" like a home game for Argentina, the whole stadium were parochially supporting them. The extent they supported Argentina made me sick, so now, whenever China or a Chinese club play, I'm hoping for the opposition to win.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
What I have heard is not just about not playing without injury. Most of the journalists have not written the below. Messi hid away from shaking hand with the Chief Executive of Hong Kong while other of his team members did. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Lee Ka-chiu, is pushing forward the legislation under Article 23 of Basic Law of Hong Kong. Messi showed many other gestures to demean other government officials, the match organizers and fans in Hong Kong. Messi has always been connected to politics. He wants to be a Jew. Remember?
Aiden
Roar Rookie
Agreed, that’s why I say they didn’t handle it well. Prices skyrocketed, he didn’t even come onto the pitch to say sorry, there was little sympathy for the fans But … the Chinese have taken it to a ridiculous level. He played in Japan deliberately to impinge our honor, now Argentina can’t go to China as there are fears for safety. It’s all a terrible conspiracy to embarrass China. Come on. Grow up babies.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
You grossly misunderstand the situation and the market. Do you know which country had the most fans attend the Russia world cup? China. Do you know which country they listed as following? Argentina. There is a reason Argentina play friendlies in China. They make BUCKETS more hosting them in China than they do in Argentina. HK fans had a once in a lifetime chance to see Messi. Now, if he couldn't play cause he was injured, then so be it. But to not even engage with the fans on the night? Poor.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
Correct Inter Miami exploited the situation and hid behind the ticket conditions
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
It's not the fact he didn't play that has upset the Chinese. It's that he did nothing at all. He could have spoken to the crowd at the trophy presentation, he could have done a lap of the stadium to meet people. No, he sat on the bench and skulked out at the end of the match. The fans are right to be angry. I went to a Yankees game in July. Aaron Judge was injured. You know what he did? He goes and meets the fans.
Ferno
Roar Rookie
the thing is that, apart of Messi, Inter Miami is a ordinary team at Perth Glory’s level. They paid big money to see Messi, not to see Robert Taylor.
Aiden
Roar Rookie
Messi and Co didn’t handle the situation well, but injured means injured and sometimes you can play a day later. The Chinese are being absolute babies.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
Actually, yes they would have been happy to see him walk around for half an hour. China needs to be a bit more mature.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
Hahaha, the Asian Eurosnobs are upset because they paid huge money to watch a meaningless match where Messi didn't play. Would they have been happy if he just came on and walked around for half hour? These matches are such a waste of time in my opinion, nothing more than a circus. You're not watching a football match with any intensity or meaning. People just go there to "see" a particular player or team in the flesh, yet both the visiting team and local team are going through the motions.
mrl
Roar Rookie
He is not the worlds best player….defenders and goalkeepers work much harder!!!
Garry
Roar Rookie
is Homebush available? :happy: