Lionel Messi’s withdrawal during a friendly match between Inter Miami and a team from Hong Kong caused a diplomatic crisis between China and Argentina.
“ Beijing is not currently considering organizing the match in which Lionel Messi was to take part “, indicated the Chinese Football Federation on Saturday. In March, Argentina was scheduled to face Nigeria in Hangzhou and Ivory Coast in Beijing. This decision follows the heated controversy sparked this week by the star of the 2022 world champions playing for Inter Miami (Major League Soccer).
Lionel Messi did not play last Sunday in a friendly match between the Florida franchise and a team from Hong Kong, citing a muscle injury. Three days later in Japan, the Albiceleste captain frolicked for half an hour against a Kobe team. What angered, to say the least, the Chinese supporters and the local authorities.
Hong Kongers hate Messi
The main advisor to the Hong Kong government declared, on Xprecise The Teamthat Lionel Messi should not “never be allowed to return. Hong Kong people hate Messi, Inter Miami and the dark hand behind them, for the deliberate and calculated snub inflicted on Hong Kong. His lies and hypocrisy are disgusting.”
