The national team’s tour of China is in danger: anger is growing over Messi’s absence and the possibility of Argentina’s presence is being sought

The return of the Argentine national team to China represented a real novelty. Not just because he was part of it the negotiation for Lionel Scaloni’s continuity as coachbut as it has become a challenge for AFA logistics managers, after the episodes experienced last June. But, this Friday, the shots of the absence of Lionel Messi in the friendly match between his team InterMiami and a First Division team from Hong Kong hit hard: The city of Hangzhou, in southern China, has decided to cancel the duel against Nigeria, which will open the preparation window for the Copa América.

The AFA announced a few weeks ago that from 18 to 26 March it would first face the Green Eagles and then the Ivory Coast, in this case in Beijing. Both rivals will meet this weekend in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

But Messi, on tour with Inter Miami, angered his Hong Kong fans when he did not play against a local team on Sunday. Pulga watched the entire match from the reserves bench and, later, Argentine coach Gerardo Tata Martino reported suffering from muscle discomfort. But that reason remained at the center of controversy when the world champion from Rosario played 30 minutes in Tokyo in a friendly against Vissel Kobe on Wednesday.

The case got too bad because the Hong Kong government had paid the organizer as part of promoting the country, which is only now hosting major events after the coronavirus pandemic kept them confined within its limits.

And everything got complicated when the Hangzhou sports authority announced that it had decided to cancel the friendly match between Argentina and Nigeria..

“For reasons that we all know, we have learned from the control authorities that the conditions for the match are not in place. “It has been decided to cancel the match.”the Hangzhou Sports Authority said on its official social media channel.

Consulted by the international agency AP, an AFA leader who requested confidentiality acknowledged the news and clarified that they are trying Alternative venues to play Nigeria.

The friendly match against Ivory Coast, which will be played a few days later in Beijing, was still underwayas confirmed by the spokesperson of the Ivorian national team Anne-Marie N’Guessan.

Ticket Refunds in Hong Kong

On the same day, organizers of the Hong Kong match said they would offer a 50% refund following outrage from fans and the government over the star’s absence.

The tickets had a maximum cost of 4.88 billion Hong Kong dollars (624 in US dollars). Tatler Asia noted that it will refund HK$56 million ($7.2 million) and suffer a loss of HK$43 million ($5.5 million), while before the refund the company would have had a turnover of $13 million Hong Kong ($1.7 million) in US dollars).

Tatler Asia, the company organizing the duel, said today in a statement that it will refund 50% of the ticket price after criticism received for the Argentine’s absence.

Over the past two days, many social media users in mainland China have expressed their disappointment that Messi did not play in China. The official Chinese newspaper Global Times published an editorial underlining that the impact of the controversy surrounding the attacker “far exceeds the sporting sphere”.

In a message posted on Instagram, local promotion company Tatler Asia apologized to people who left the friendly disappointed and who were angered “by the clear lack of respect towards the public”.

They reiterated that they had asked Inter Miami officials to ask Messi to explain to spectators after learning that the player, who was obliged to play 45 minutes unless he was injured in the contract he signed, would have no action .

“I didn’t do it. “The fact that Messi played in Japan on February 7 is like another slap in the face.”complete.

Tatler Asia said it was in contact with the government to resolve the issue and that refund details will be announced in mid-March.

“We will not escape our responsibility as organizers and that is why Tatler Asia will offer all those who purchased tickets for the match through official channels a 50% refund”has indicated.

The Hong Kong government approved this decision, but made it clear that its country’s society still deserves to receive answers, especially after seeing Messi play in Japan, so Inter Miami must speak publicly.