An Argentina football friendly in China next month was cancelled on Friday in more fallout from Lionel Messi failing to play in a club match in Hong Kong.

World Cup champions Argentina, captained by Messi, last month scheduled a tour of China during the international break from March 18-26.

Games were lined up against Nigeria in Hangzhou and Ivory Coast in Beijing. Both opponents are coincidentally meeting in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday.

But Messi, on tour with his Inter Miami club, outraged fans in Hong Kong when he didn’t play against a local selection last Sunday and remained on the bench. Messi said he had a groin injury. But his excuse didn’t wash in Hong Kong after he played for 30 minutes on Wednesday in Tokyo against Vissel Kobe.

On Friday, the sports bureau in Hangzhou cancelled the Argentina-Nigeria game.

“Because of the reasons known to all, we’ve learned from supervising authorities that the conditions are immature for the match to go forward. Now it’s been decided that the match will be cancelled,” the Hangzhou Sports Bureau announced on its official social media account.

An Argentina Football Association official said it was aware the match was suspended and was looking for another venue to play Nigeria. The official spoke on condition of anonymity saying, “It’s a sensitive matter.”

The Ivory Coast friendly in Beijing was going ahead as planned, Ivory Coast team spokesperson Anne-Marie N’Guessan said on Friday.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong organisers of the club friendly with Inter Miami said they will offer a 50 per cent refund following days of backlash against Messi from angry fans and the city government.

Many social media users in mainland China expressed their disappointment over Messi’s no-show.