The anticipated friendly match between Argentina and Nigeria, slated to take place at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center in mainland China, has been cancelled due to widespread backlash from supporters. The cancellation follows a series of events surrounding Lionel Messi’s absence from another friendly match held in Hong Kong.
Originally, Messi was expected to participate in a friendly match for his club side, Inter Miami, in Hong Kong. However, despite expectations, Messi did not make an appearance on the field during the match, leaving fans disappointed and prompting calls for refunds from the 40,000 spectators in attendance. Messi later explained that he was sidelined due to a hamstring injury, despite his desire to play.
The Hong Kong government had previously stated that Messi was contractually obligated to play 45 minutes in the match, which Inter Miami ultimately won 4-1 against a League XI. However, Messi’s absence fueled discontent among fans, leading to criticism and frustration.
In light of these events and the ensuing controversy, the scheduled friendly match between Argentina and Nigeria faced significant opposition. The Hangzhou Sports Bureau announced the cancellation of the event via a WeChat update, citing the prevailing circumstances and the “immature” conditions for holding the match as reasons for the decision.
Messi’s brief appearance in another match against Japanese side Vissel Kobe further fueled discontent among fans, who perceived it as disrespectful to the Chinese audience.
