Hangzhou authorities cancelled the International Friendly ‘A’ match between Argentina and Nigeria next month at Hangzhou, China, after Lionel Messi did not play for Inter Miami’s match against Hong Kong last week.
Messi hasn’t played for Inter Miami and sat on the substitute bench at Hong Kong Stadium in a match against Hong Kong national team in a friendly match during a pre-season match on 4 February 2024.
Following that, Hong Kong fans were angry, and the match organizers announced they would return 50% of the ticket money to supporters after Messi was unable to play due to injury, but the star was in action in Japan a few days later.
Continued to escalate to the point that the Hangzhou sports body announced that the friendly between Argentina and Nigeria on 18 March could not take place at Hangzhou.
“As a commercial event, the Argentine football company and team entered into negotiations to hold a friendly match in March in Hangzhou,” Hangzhou authorities said in a statement.
Credit Photo : SCMP
