Tickets to see Lionel Messi leads the Argentina soccer team in a friendly match against Australia in Beijing they go up to $680organizers announced on Friday.
The match on 15 June at the Estadio de los Trabajadores, with a capacity of 68,000 spectators, is a re-enactment of the match Argentina versus Australia at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when they met in the round of 16.
Messi, whose contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires at the end of the season, scored that match Argentina won 2-1 on the way to victory in the World Cup.
Tickets for the friendly are priced between 580 yuan ($82) and 4,800 yuan ($680) and will go on sale in two batches, on June 5 and June 8, according to organizers.
Several angry fans took to social media to complain about the prices.
“I will report them for theft,” wrote one Chinese internet user Weibo to the account of the club organizing the friendly.
“For 4,800, Messi will carry us on his shoulders while he plays?” asked another user.
China has taken measures to prevent the resale of tickets, but merchants on the Chinese platform Taobao have already started offering ticket purchasing services. One vendor charged 18,000 yuan for what he claims is access to VIP seats.
This will be Messi’s first visit to China since 2017. After facing Australia, Scaloni’s side will take on Indonesia on Monday 19 June.
Source: AFP
Source: Clarin
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