Chinese authorities cancel second Argentina soccer match after backlash from Messi in Hong Kong

Eugene Hoshiko/`

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi plays in the friendly match between Vissel Kobe and Inter Miami at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan on February 7.

Hong Kong
CNN
—

Chinese authorities have canceled two Argentina national team soccer matches amid growing backlash against star player Lionel Messi in the country.

Messi was heavily criticized after sitting on the bench during a friendly match with his Major League Soccer team Inter Miami in Hong Kong.

A sellout crowd of 40,000 attended the game in Hong Kong – many of them hoping to see the man widely regarded as the best footballer in the world – but the event ended acrimoniously as fans were booed, jeered and demanded a refund. because he failed to enter the field.

Messi has since stated that he wanted to play but was kept off the field due to an injury. But that hasn't stopped him from receiving a torrent of criticism on the Chinese internet.

The latest sign of Chinese displeasure with Messi came on Friday when sports authorities in Beijing and Hangzhou said they would no longer host the two friendlies the Argentina team was scheduled to play in March.

The team was scheduled to play against Nigeria at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center and against Ivory Coast at the Beijing Workers' Sport Complex.

But on Friday, the Hangzhou Sports Bureau said in a post on WeChat the game had been canceled “for the reason everyone knows.”

“The conditions for holding the event are immature and it has been decided to cancel the event,” it said.

Later in the day, the Beijing Football Association announced the cancellation of the remaining game.

“Recently, many fans and netizens have asked about Messi's game in Beijing,” the football authority said in a post on social media, adding: “Beijing currently has no plans to host relevant competitions in which Messi will take part.”

Messi remained on the substitutes' bench when Inter Miami played the Hong Kong team on February 4, despite repeated requests from the Hong Kong government and organizer Tatler Asia to send him onto the pitch.

His coach later said Messi was injured and that the medical team had advised him not to play at the last minute. Messi later said it was a “disgrace” and that he wanted to take part.

His subsequent 30-minute appearance in a friendly against Vissel Kobe in Japan a few days later only further angered Chinese fans, with many – including pro-Beijing politicians in Hong Kong – likening it to an insult to China.

Messi now faces a PR nightmare in one of the world's most lucrative sports markets, where he has previously enjoyed great popularity.

On Friday, Hong Kong gaming operator Tatler announced

“Our aim was to create an iconic moment to support the government's efforts to remind the world how relevant and exciting Hong Kong is. That dream has shattered today for us and everyone who bought tickets to see Messi on the pitch,” said the company, which publishes Tatler-branded magazines across Asia.