SportsNews
China sports authorities cancel Argentina vs Nigeria friendly amid backlash over Lionel Messi’s failure to play for Inter Miami in Hong Kong
The Chinese sporting authorities have cancelled next month’s friendly international between Argentina and Nigeria over Lionel Messi’s failure to play in an Inter Miami friendly match in Hong Kong last week.
Argentina were scheduled to play Nigeria in the Chinese city of Hangzhou next month before facing the Ivory Coast in Beijing, but Messi’s failure to take to the field for Inter Miami in Hong Kong on Sunday sparked outrage among fans.
The organiser of the Hong Kong match said they would give fans a 50% refund for tickets after the former Barcelona star did not take the field during their 4-1 win against Hong Kong All-Stars due to injury, but played in Japan days later.
On Friday, Hangzhou sports authorities announced that Argentina’s friendly against Nigeria would no longer take place.
‘As a commercial event, a company and the Argentinian soccer team negotiated that the team would play a friendly match in March this year in the city of Hangzhou,’ the Hangzhou authorities said in a statement.
“In view of the current well-known reasons, according to the competent authorities, conditions to hold the friendly match are not mature, therefore (we) have decided to cancel it.”
Tatler Asia, a privately owned publishing and lifestyle company, said in a statement on its Instagram page that it was “deeply sorry” and “heartbroken” that fans were let down after Messi stayed on the bench during Sunday’s match.
The match in Hong Kong drew 40,000 fans, with some spectators paying up to nearly HK$5,000 ($640) per ticket.
The cost of all match tickets bought from official channels can be 50% refunded, Tatler said, adding that it had been in discussions with the Hong Kong government to resolve the issue.
Inter Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said Messi was deemed unfit to play in the friendly in Hong Kong, but he came on as a 60th minute substitute against Vissel Kobe on Wednesday.
“When we learned that Messi would not be playing, we pleaded with Inter Miami CF ownership and management to urge him to stand up, engage with the spectators and explain why he couldn’t play,” Tatler said.
“He didn’t. The fact that Messi and (team mate Luis) Suarez played in Japan on Feb. 7 feels like another slap in the face.”
Former Newcastle United striker, Andy Carroll has criticized Alexander Isak for trying to force a move to Liverpool this summer transfer window.
Carroll labelled Isak’s behavior as a shame because Newcastle fans want him to stay at St. James’ Park this season.
Isak has refused to play for Newcastle again and as a result the Swede international has gone on strike.
He will not take part in Newcastle’s Premier League tie against Aston Villa this weekend.
The 25-year-old has made his decision clear he wants to join Liverpool this summer.
Speaking on the development, Carroll told Sky Sports: “Isak is not from Newcastle so he can act like he is acting now and think it is acceptable.
“It is a big move for him. The way he is playing his cards at the minute, the Newcastle fans are not going to back him and it is a shame because he is such a good player and every Newcastle fan wants him to stay, the manager wants him to stay.”
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Gusau, has reiterated that there will be no change to the kick-off date for the 2025–26 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL season.
Gusau disclosed this at the NPFL 2025/26 pre-season seminar in Lafia on Friday.
He said it is a positive development that the league calendar now aligns with that of European clubs.
“When we came on board, we had no choice but to opt for an abridged league. This paved the way for achieving uniformity, as our league ended in May last season,” Gusau stated in his address.
“This season, too, we will start on August 22 as scheduled.”
Defending champions Remo Stars will square up against Rivers United in the opening fixture of the new season.
The season is expected to climax in May 2025.
The Anambra Beach Soccer Association says all is set for the second round of the Nigeria Beach Soccer League, due to kick off in Nnewi on August 21.
Okwudili Awam, the Director of Media of ABSA, gave the assurance in Awka on Monday.
”We are thrilled to inform lovers of beach soccer that Anambra will host the second round of the 2025 NBSL commencing on Aug. 21st, 2025″
Awam said the league would be held at the Beach Soccer stadium within the Nnewi High School premises.
He said eight beach soccer clubs, including Kebbi Fishers, Ibom, Nmako Patigi, Kada, Kebbi United, Jigawa Golden Stars, Niger, and hosts Anambra Beach Soccer Warriors, would take part in the league.
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