The return of the Argentine National Team to China had represented quite a novelty
.
Not only because it was part of
the negotiation for the continuity of Lionel Scaloni as coach
, but because it became a challenge for those in charge of AFA logistics,
after the episodes experienced last June
.
But, this Friday, the shock of
Lionel Messi's absence
in the friendly between his team
Inter Miami
and a team from the
Hong Kong
First Division hit hard:
the city of Hangzhou, in South China, decided to cancel the duel against Nigeria, with which he was going to open the preparation window for the Copa América
.
The AFA announced a few weeks ago that between March 18 and 26 it would face the Green Eagles first and then the Ivory Coast, in this case in Beijing.
Both rivals meet this weekend in the final of the African Cup of Nations.
But Messi, on tour with Inter Miami, angered his fans in Hong Kong when he did not play against a local team on Sunday.
La Pulga watched the entire game from the substitute bench and, later, Argentine coach Gerardo Tata Martino pointed out that he was suffering from muscle discomfort.
But that reason remained at the center of the controversy when the world champion from Rosario played 30 minutes on Wednesday in Tokyo in a friendly against Vissel Kobe.
The case escalated too much 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 to its limits.
Photo: AP / Louise Delmotte
And everything became complicated when the Hangzhou sports authority announced that it had decided to cancel the friendly between Argentina-Nigeria
.
“Given the reasons that we all know, we have learned from the supervisory authorities that the conditions are not appropriate to carry out the match. “It has been decided to cancel the match
,” said the Hangzhou sports authority on its official social media channel.
Consulted by the international agency AP, an AFA leader who requested a reservation acknowledged the news and clarified that
alternative venues are being sought to play against Nigeria
.
The friendly against the Ivory Coast that will take place a few days later in Beijing was still on
, as confirmed by the spokesperson for the Ivorian National Team
Anne-Marie N'Guessan
.
Ticket refunds in Hong Kong
On this same day, the match organizers in Hong Kong reported that they will offer a 50% refund following the outrage of fans and the government over the star's absence.
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 (US$7.2 million) and take a loss of HK$43 million (US$5.5 million), when prior to the refund, the company It was going to bill 13 million Hong Kong dollars (1.7 million in US dollars).
Tatler Asia, the company organizing the duel, said today in a statement that it will refund 50 percent of the ticket price after the criticism received for the Argentine's absence.
Over the past two days, many social media users in mainland China expressed their displeasure that Messi did not play in China.
The Chinese official newspaper Global Times published an editorial in which it was pointed out that the impact of the controversy surrounding the striker “far exceeds the sporting sphere.”
Photo: Peter PARKS / AFP
In a message posted on Instagram, the local promotion company Tatler Asia apologized to the people who left the friendly disappointed, and who were irritated "by the obvious lack of respect towards the public."
They reiterated that they begged the Inter Miami directors to ask Messi to give an explanation to the spectators after learning that the footballer, who had a requirement to play 45 minutes unless he was injured in the contract they signed, was not going to have action.
"It did not. The fact that Messi played in Japan on February 7 is like another slap in the face
,” he concluded.
Tatler Asia said it is in contact with the government to resolve the matter and that refund details will be announced in mid-March.
“We are not going to 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
,” he indicated.
The Hong Kong government approved this decision, but clarified that the society of its country still deserves to receive answers, especially after seeing Messi play in Japan, so Inter Miami must speak out publicly.