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Mainland Chinese sports authority says ‘no plans’ to host football matches involving Lionel Messi after he stays on bench for Hong Kong fixture

  • Beijing Football Association speaks out after Argentine national squad, captained by Messi, scheduled two matches in China next month
  • Game against in Nigeria in Hangzhou already cancelled, Beijing fixture against Ivory Coast still up in the air

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Inter Miami’s captain Lionel Messi speaks to the press before he turns out for the club in a friendly match in Tokyo, just days after he failed to play in Hong Kong because of injury. Photo: Handout
Mainland China’s sports authorities appear to have ruled out an appearance by Lionel Messi next month after the Argentine football star’s earlier no-show for a Hong Kong friendly match with his club side Inter Miami.
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The Argentina national squad, captained by Messi, last month scheduled a tour of China during the international break from March 18-26, which included friendly matches with Nigeria in Hangzhou and against Ivory Coast in Beijing.

But the Beijing Football Association, which oversees football in the capital city, said on Saturday that it had “no plans at the moment to host any matches involving Messi”.

The association added that it had spoken out after queries from football fans about possible appearances by Messi in March.

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi leaves a Vissel Kobe player floundering in his wake in a friendly game in Tokyo. Photo: Kyodo
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi leaves a Vissel Kobe player floundering in his wake in a friendly game in Tokyo. Photo: Kyodo

The Saturday social media post came a day after the Hangzhou Municipal Sports Bureau announced the cancellation of the friendly match between Argentina and Nigeria for reasons “known by everyone”.

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