Chinese Cities Cancel Argentina Matches After Messi Snub

Matches Cancelled

Messi’s Absence

China cancels two friendly matches involving Argentina following Lionel Messi’s absence from an Inter Miami match in Hong Kong.

Development Details

Reasons Behind Cancellation

The cancellation is a result of Messi’s failure to appear for Inter Miami during a Hong Kong exhibition match, sparking criticism and calls for refunds.

Scheduled Tour

Argentina was set to tour China from March 18 to 26, playing against Nigeria in Hangzhou and Ivory Coast in Beijing.

Public Reaction

Nationalist Outcry

Nationalist politicians and media outlets interpret Messi’s absence as a snub to China, leading to the cancellation of the matches.

Spectator Discontent

Spectators in Hong Kong demanded refunds upon learning of Messi’s absence, chanting and expressing dissatisfaction during the match.

Government Intervention

The Hong Kong government demanded an explanation from the match organizers and ensured spectators receive a 50% refund.

Messi’s Response

Clarification

Messi attributes his absence to injury and expresses hopes of returning to the city, denying any intentional snub.

Subsequent Appearance

Despite the controversy, Messi played in a friendly match in Japan shortly after, causing further outrage among Chinese fans.

Impact on Argentine Football Federation

Strategic Market Loss

The cancellation poses a challenge for the Argentine Football Federation, which views China as a crucial market for the sport.

Previous Engagements

Argentina’s friendly in Beijing in 2023 led to lucrative contracts with local companies, highlighting China’s importance to the federation’s commercial interests.

Mr. Azhar ul Haq Wahid - Editor Mr. Azhar ul Haq Wahid joins "To The Sports News" as an Editor, bringing a decade of comprehensive journalistic experience to our team. A respected Pakistani journalist, he has dedicated his career to covering a wide array of global issues across the world, demonstrating a deep understanding of complex subjects and a commitment to detailed reporting. Mr. Wahid has a background working with prominent print and electronic media organizations, including Channel Five TV, the newspaper "Khabrain," The Nation/Nawa-i-Waqt, NNI, Daily Sama, City 42, Star Asia, Waqt News, Daily The Business, and Daily The Khabrain. His work has covered areas such as Environment, Health, and Sports. He is also a member of the Lahore Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ), highlighting his dedication to journalistic standards and diverse reporting. His academic background includes a BS Honors degree in Sociology and an MPhil from Punjab University, alongside a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sargodha. Furthermore, Mr. Wahid is a Ph.D. candidate in Journalism at Complutense University of Madrid, and has contributed to research on topics including the relationship of sports participation with achievement, motivation, and innovation traits among university students, and the effects of parental involvement on student participation in sports. With his extensive experience in covering diverse topics and his keen analytical skills, Mr. Azhar ul Haq Wahid is poised to lead our sports news coverage with depth, accuracy, and insightful perspectives, ensuring our readers receive top-tier journalistic content.

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