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© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Anger over Messi's absence in Hong Kong game spreads: Argentina friendly in mainland China canceled
By KANIS LEUNG HONG KONG©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
23 Comments
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Hiro
I am not even surprise at this point. This kind of pettiness has been repeatedly done countless times in the past whenever they felt they weren't given the proper respect. They know how to use money to make a point.
funkymofo
Waaah
Oh no- banned from a dystopic totalitarian Chinese democratic graveyard.
Fighto!
Anyone who pays big bucks to watch ONE player - in a friendly for God's sake - is not a real football fan. Just a celebrity watcher.
Now to suggest that the whole thing was some type of "conspiracy against Chinese" is laughable.
But, happy to hear Hong Kongers wasted their money. Couldn't happen to a nicer crowd.
bcexile
Argentina should just come here and play Japan instead. higher quality opposition for them, no ridiculous paper-thin egos of the CCP to placate, win-win.
Jimizo
That’s fine. I knew a few casual fans in Japan who went to a game just to see Iniesta play. Other casual fans choose to support the more successful sides around the world - say City or Liverpool in England, Celtic or Rangers in Scotland, Real Madrid or Barca or in Japan they’d choose maybe Urawa Reds.
Makes sense. They probably wouldn’t choose to follow Stockport County or pay to watch a yard dog centre-half weave his magic.
Asiaman7
A Messi situation.
Fighto!
This rubbish is from a leading member of the HK government. Just shows their level of paranoia and stupidity.
Good for them getting to see him once more! But I bet they wouldn't have spat the dummy and demanded refunds if the great Iniesta had been rested by Kobe from the game to manage his body. Players in their late 30s, no matter how legendary, simply can't play every single game anymore.
Asiaman7
Yes … but perhaps it is similar to fan paying big bucks to fly to the U.S. to see Ohtani play.
Fighto!
Agreed. Seems a bit silly to focus on just one player in a team sport. There's always a chance they might not play, too.
Jimizo
I have no idea about baseball but I heard he’s very good. I heard there are many bandwagon jumpers with very little knowledge of the game calling him the GOAT. All very silly.
I see your point but you might get lucky.
I was at a footy game where a young Paul Gascoigne tore my side to pieces - on a different level. A pleasure to watch. I still remember it clearly now.
Still, it’s an outside chance.
ebisen
Well, Messi was the big sales point in this tournament :) . I ensure you they wouldn't have had half the sales if he would announce he would be missing. That being said, he has the right to declare he's injured (probably he really is) and miss all the games!
Paul
Good! Nobody should go to China for any reason!
falseflagsteve
It’s all about celeb culture and dough, as shallow as a worms grave.
I don’t think men’s teams should wear pink kits.
ian
Good move for Messi if he and the team won't be hurt financially.
Careless of the organizer
ian
But whatever, still not a good look, might hurt his image with fans he does care about, if there were
ClippetyClop
I agree. He was renowned at Barca for wanting to play every minute of every game, and made Rijkaard and Pep very much aware of that.
That said, he could have come on for the last 10 minutes and just jogged around a bit, maybe spent an hour going around the ground for a few pics and autographs.
I remember watching a game of rounders in Tokyo where Dice-K was playing for the Boston Yankeesocks or someone. He was injured, didn't play and didn't even do any signings or pictures. Just sat mooching in the bench corner all game like Jimmy White's brother whilst the other Boston players were going around giving the fans some love.
isabelle
Typical China - offended by absolutely everything, even when there's nothing to be offended about.
Of course the reason why Messi didn't play in Hong Kong was injury. He has a ton of sponsors in China - do people honestly think he would've boycotted the game for political reasons when there are $$$$$ at stake?
And recovering a few days later to play in another game is something that absolutely happens in soccer.
Still, though - rabid nationalists take it as a huge sleight on their totalitarian paradise. I'm surprised they didn't arrest him for "hurting the feelings of a billion Chinese people."
buchailldana
You have to laugh at the spilled entitled.
Not used to not having their own way.
Only good thing was Beckham being booed.
ian
Good thing there were no violence
njca4
Of course the Chinese government would do that ...
It's probably also related to the new Argentian president's decision to put out of the BRICS expansion.
I can imagine Xi has been thinking about 100 ways to get back at Argentina for that.
theFu
Another petty day in China. The only surprise is how petty they can be.
xin xin
Doing anything less in ghastly Hong Kong would have been inhumane. But will Argentina be able to stand up to China?