In the latest fallout from Lionel Messi's absence in an Inter Miami exhibition match in Hong Kong, the Argentina friendly scheduled in China next month has been cancelled. The cancellation comes after Messi, who captains the World Cup champion Argentina team, failed to play against a local selection in Hong Kong, sparking outrage among fans.

Initially, Argentina had planned a tour of China during the international break from March 18-26, with games lined up against Nigeria in Hangzhou and Ivory Coast in Beijing. However, Messi's failure to participate in the Inter Miami match and his subsequent 30-minute appearance in Tokyo against Vissel Kobe raised doubts about his injury claim. This led to mounting criticism and disappointment among fans in Hong Kong.

On Friday, the sports bureau in Hangzhou officially announced the cancellation of the Argentina-Nigeria friendly, citing the "immature conditions" for the match to proceed. The Argentine Football Association acknowledged the suspension of the match and is now searching for an alternative venue to play Nigeria, while the friendly between Ivory Coast and Argentina in Beijing is still set to proceed as planned.

Meanwhile, organizers in Hong Kong of the club friendly with Inter Miami have faced backlash from angry fans and the city government. As a result, they have decided to offer a 50% refund to disappointed spectators. Many social media users in mainland China expressed their disappointment over Messi's absence, and China's state-run newspaper, the Global Times, published an editorial claiming that the controversy surrounding Messi has extended beyond the realm of sports.

Local organizer Tatler Asia, in an Instagram post, apologized to disappointed fans for Messi's absence and expressed disappointment at the perceived lack of respect shown to the crowd. They pleaded with Inter Miami management to have Messi explain the situation to the spectators, but their requests went unanswered. Tatler Asia is currently in talks with the city government to find a resolution, and details of the refund arrangement will be announced by mid-March.

The cancellation of the China friendly has further intensified the scrutiny surrounding Messi's absence, with questions arising about potential political motives and external forces trying to embarrass Hong Kong. Pro-Beijing politicians in Hong Kong, such as Regina Ip, have called out Messi for his alleged lies and hypocrisy.

In light of these controversies, Inter Miami issued an apology, acknowledging the disappointment and frustration caused by Messi and Luis Suárez's absence in the match. They emphasized the importance of prioritizing player health and cited injuries as an unfortunate reality in the game.

The Argentina friendly cancellation in China adds another chapter to the ongoing saga of Messi's absence and the subsequent fallout. As the tour wraps up with a match against Newell's Old Boys in Florida, Messi's boyhood club from Rosario, Argentina, the international football community eagerly awaits further developments and a resolution to this controversy.

The Associated Press and Reuters have contributed to this report.