The Chinese sporting authority has cancelled a deal to host the March international friendly game between Argentina and Nigeria after a row with Lionel Messi over his non participation in a friendly game in Hong Kong, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Messi was due to play in a friendly game for his team Inter Miami against Hong Kong XI, but didn’t play in the game due to a groin injury which angered thousands of fans who turned up to catch a glimpse of the reigning best player in the world, who they were told will play in the game.
As a gesture of kindness and sympathy to fans who turned up for the game Hong Kong offered a 50% refund to those who purchased tickets for the game. On average, each ticket cost $624 dollars.
The Argentine released a statement apologizing for the mix up but the organisers and fans who turned up for the game were enraged when he played 30 minutes in another friendly game in Japan against Vissel Kobe on Wednesday showing no sign of a player who is recovering from a groin injury.
In his statement he mentioned China and that didn’t go down well with the football authority making them to pull the plug on the hosting of the friendly game between Argentina and Nigeria.
During the international break from March 18 to 26, the Argentine national team were scheduled to play friendly matches against Nigeria in Hangzhou and Ivory Coast in Beijing.
“As a commercial event, a company negotiated with the Argentine football team to come to Hangzhou for a friendly match in March this year,” the Hangzhou authorities said in a statement. “In view of the currently well-known reasons, it is understood from the competent authorities that the conditions for holding the event are not mature, and the decision has been made to cancel the event.”
However, the game against Ivory Coast will still go on as planned, while talks over getting an alternative venue for the game with Super Eagles continues.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
