Lionel Messi’s decision to cancel a charity match in Los Angeles during the summer break sparked controversy in the United States. The FC Barcelona player had previously participated in a charity match in Colombia but decided to cancel the Los Angeles event, causing disappointment among organizers and fans.
The executive director of El Padrino Spirits, one of the sponsors of the match, Todd Graham, expressed frustration, stating that Messi’s team showed a lack of respect for the fans. According to officials cited by the LA Times, the money allocated for Messi’s appearance had already been used to cover debts related to the previous match in Colombia. Messi, who had complained about not receiving much more than the cost of transport to Colombia, was concerned about not receiving the expected payment for his presence in Los Angeles.
Messi later apologized on his Facebook account, blaming the organizers for the cancellation and expressing his disappointment with the management of the charity match in Los Angeles. He emphasized his desire to contribute to such causes for the fans and expressed a special thought for those who were planning to support the cause at the LA Memorial. The cancellation of the charity match left both organizers and fans disappointed.
