Argentina star Messi’s absence from Singapore game angers local fans

SINGAPORE – World football star and Argentina captain Lionel Messi’s move to skip his country’s upcoming friendly against Singapore at the National Stadium next Tuesday (June 13) has left local football fans fuming and feeling cheated.

Regarded as one of the best players of his generation, the prolific Barcelona striker, a five-time Fifa Ballon d’Or (World Player of the Year) award winner, was promoted as one of the star attractions of the match, which is being organised to mark the 125th anniversary of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).

However, Argentinian newspaper Clarin reported on Thursday (June 8) that Messi would be missing the fixture to prepare for his wedding to girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo on June 30.

The report added that Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi will also miss the match against Singapore to prepare for his own wedding on June 16.

The news was then confirmed by new Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli during a media conference in Melbourne on Thursday morning, where Argentina are currently in for their friendly against Brazil on Friday.

“Otamendi and Messi are allowed to travel after the game, because they are getting married. So it was already planned that they will leave after the game with Brazil,” Sampaoli was reported as saying.

Local football fans, especially those who bought tickets just to watch Messi in action, were left feeling outraged by the news. 

This is because match organisers – international sport and entertainment promoter UNICESS and the FAS – were reaffirming Messi’s participation even up to last Friday, stating in a media release that a “full-strength Argentinian squad, including Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain” had been selected to take part in the fixture.

Tickets to the Singapore vs Argentina match are priced at S$40, S$78, S$138, S$188.

One of the fans, accounts manager Muhammad Hamzah, said: “I bought tickets to the match because I thought Messi was coming. Given that they aren’t cheap, of course I’m unhappy to know that he might not come down now.

“I wish the organisers or the Argentinian FA had announced this earlier, especially as he’s (Messi) been promoted heavily as one of the star attractions for this fixture.”

Marketing executive Alvin Tan, who spent S$276 on two Category 2 tickets, said: “Obviously it’s a huge disappointment. If I knew this earlier, I would probably have bought cheaper tickets.”

And even though the Argentina team travelling to Singapore will still feature other stars such as Javier Mascherano, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria, that did not give Tan much consolation. 

“The other players in the Argentina team are world class as well, but they’re no Messi,” he said.

Other fans were unhappy that news of Messi’s absence was revealed less than a week before the match.

Said student Rahul Warrier: “Considering the game was marketed as Messi and stars coming to Singapore, the main attraction was obvious … the blame lies at the organisers, because certainly they must have known something about Messi’s absence. 

“Sampaoli said as much in his press conference that Messi’s absence was planned. The question is whether this was intimated to the organisers and or the FAS, who will now naturally be painted as the villains. Of course, it could also be a case of the Argentina FA not informing the organisers of Messi’s choice (to skip this game).”

In response to TODAY’s queries, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and match promoter UNICESS said in a joint media statement that they are trying “to determine the authencity of the claims” made in the media reports with the Argentina Football Association (AFA).

“(We) are aware of the recent media stories around Lionel Messi and Nicolas Otamendi’s appearance in the Singapore vs Argentina football match on Tuesday, 13 June at the Singapore Sports Hub,” said the statement, which was issued by Roco Communications.

“We are currently working with the AFA to determine the authenticity of the claims made in these reports and will provide an update as soon as we are able. 

“Meanwhile, we are looking forward to welcoming the Argentinian national team to Singapore for this historical match against the Lions as we celebrate FAS’ 125th anniversary.”

The Argentina team will arrive in Singapore on Saturday afternoon.