According to German media outlet “Kicker”, the failure of top European clubs to visit China for exhibition matches this summer is attributed to the Messi incident.
Every summer, European football giants engage in “money-making” tours, conducting pre-season friendlies in other regions. For instance, German clubs RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt went to the United States, Augsburg to South Africa, while Bayern, Dortmund, and Stuttgart ventured to Asia, specifically Japan, South Korea, and Thailand respectively.
However, China, the largest market in Asia with a population of over a billion, has been a significant investment destination for European footballers between 2010 and 2019. Football is the third most popular sport in China, trailing only table tennis and basketball, making it a desirable destination for Bundesliga teams.
“Kicker” reports that clubs like Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, aiming to conduct summer friendlies in China, were denied permission due to the Messi incident. Earlier this year, Messi visited Hong Kong, but his injury prevented him from playing. Days later, he appeared in a friendly match in Japan, sparking dissatisfaction in China. This led to the cancellation of Argentina’s planned pre-season match in China.
Bayern and Dortmund, maintaining offices in Shanghai, typically apply directly to China’s General Administration of Sport for permission to play in the country. However, their applications this time remained unanswered. Similar situations occurred for teams from other top five European leagues, with Ligue 1 facing the greatest loss, as the French Super Cup was initially scheduled to be held in China.
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