Folks store for merchandise subsequent to a board with human-shaped picture of Argentinas footballer Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria at a newly adorned submit workplace in Beijing on June 8, 2023. (Picture by Jade Gao / AFP)
Dinner, drinks and a selfie with Lionel Messi feels like each soccer fan’s dream, however Chinese language police have warned it’s simply certainly one of quite a few scams surrounding his go to to Beijing.
The Argentine legend’s presence in China for a pleasant in opposition to Australia within the capital on Thursday has drawn scammers and ticket scalpers determined to capitalize on Messi mania.
Beijing police are warning in opposition to falling for one extensively circulated commercial that guarantees a night in Messi’s firm for 300,000 yuan ($42,000).
“Should you might be scammed of 300,000 yuan, we’ll increase a glass to you,” the often austere Beijing public safety bureau joked on the Twitter-like Weibo.
Different doubtful presents posted on-line embody “inner” stadium passes for five,000 yuan and a “tailor-made VIP bundle” together with an autographed jersey, front-row seats and a photograph with Messi for over 8,000 yuan.
For 50 million yuan, Messi will seem in your procuring livestream to extol the virtues of your product, one other unauthorized commercial claims.
Messi landed in Beijing on Saturday and can lead the world champions in opposition to the Socceroos at Beijing’s newly renovated 68,000-capacity Staff’ Stadium.
It’s a rematch of the round-of-16 conflict eventually winter’s World Cup, the place Argentina gained 2-1 and went on to carry the trophy.
Chinese language followers have been determined to get near their hero Messi, with tickets for the sport starting from 580 to 4,800 yuan rapidly promoting out.
Dozens of retailers on the Taobao on-line procuring platform are providing to resell tickets for as a lot as 18,000 yuan, regardless of anti-scalping measures together with an ID requirement for getting into the stadium.
A whole lot of individuals waited exterior the Argentina staff lodge in central Beijing on Saturday, with one fan telling AFP that they had booked a room in hopes of catching a glimpse of Messi after failing to safe match tickets.
The 35-year-old Messi, who is ready to hitch Inter Miami after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, can even play one other pleasant match when Argentina takes on Indonesia in Jakarta on June 19.
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