Beijing, China: Dinner, drinks, and a selfie with Lionel Messi may seem like a dream for football fans, but Chinese police have issued a warning about the numerous scams surrounding Messi’s visit to Beijing.
Widespread Advertisement Scam Promises Evening with Messi for 300,000 yuan
Beijing police are cautioning the public against falling for a widely circulated advertisement that falsely promises an evening in the company of Lionel Messi for the price of 300,000 yuan ($42,000). In a lighthearted tone, the usually austere Beijing public security bureau joked on the Twitter-like Weibo, saying, “If you can be scammed of 300,000 yuan, we’ll raise a glass to you.
Dubious Offers and Unauthorised Advertisements
Various dubious offers have been posted online, including “internal” stadium passes being sold for 5,000 yuan and a “tailored VIP package” priced at over 8,000 yuan. The VIP package claims to include an autographed jersey, front-row seats, and a photo opportunity with Messi. Additionally, another unauthorised advertisement asserts that Messi can be hired for a shopping livestream to endorse products for a staggering amount of 50 million yuan.
Messi’s Arrival and Match Details
Lionel Messi arrived in Beijing on Saturday to lead the world champions in a friendly match against Australia. The match will take place at the newly renovated Workers’ Stadium, which has a capacity of 68,000 spectators. This match serves as a rematch of the round-of-16 clash at the previous winter’s World Cup, where Argentina emerged victorious with a 2-1 win and eventually lifted the trophy.
Desperate Fans and Ticket Scalping
Chinese fans are eagerly trying to get close to their hero, resulting in tickets for the game selling out rapidly. The ticket prices ranged from 580 to 4,800 yuan. However, numerous merchants on the Taobao online shopping platform are taking advantage of the situation and reselling tickets for as much as 18,000 yuan, despite anti-scalping measures that include ID requirements for entry into the stadium.
Fans Seeking Glimpse of Mess
Outside the Argentina team hotel in central Beijing, hundreds of people waited on Saturday in the hope of catching a glimpse of Messi, especially after failing to secure match tickets. Some fans even booked hotel rooms in the vicinity for a chance to see their idol.
Messi’s Future Plans
Lionel Messi, who is 35 years old, is set to join Inter Miami after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain. Following the match against Australia, he will also play another friendly match as Argentina takes on Indonesia in Jakarta on June 19