CHINESE POLICE DETAIN TEENAGER WHO HUGGED LIONEL MESSI DURING A FRIENDLY MATCH IN BEIJING

A teenager who ran onto the pitch to hug Argentine football star Lionel Messi during a friendly match in Beijing has been detained by the local police. The incident happened during Messi’s visit to China for a series of promotional events.

The 19-year-old fan had managed to sneak past security and run onto the pitch during the match between Argentina and Uruguay. He ran towards Messi, hugged him, and then posed for a picture alongside him. The incident was captured by cameras and went viral on social media.

However, the incident did not go well with the Chinese authorities. The police detained the teenager immediately after the match and charged him with violating the security protocol. According to the police, the teenager had put the life of Messi and other players at risk by running onto the pitch. The police added that such behavior is not acceptable in any circumstances.

This incident has sparked a debate on social media with many people supporting the actions of the police, while others saying that the punishment is too harsh. Many people have also pointed out that Messi had not reacted negatively to the incident and that it was a harmless act of fandom.

The Chinese Sports Ministry has issued a statement saying that such behavior is a threat to the safety of the players and that it cannot be tolerated. The ministry has also warned fans against such behavior in future.

This is not the first time that Messi has faced such incidents during his visit to China. In 2017, a man had run onto the pitch and tried to hug him during a promotional event. Messi had then responded calmly and tried to shake hands with the man.

Messi is one of the most popular footballers in China and has a huge fan following in the country. He has been to China several times in the past for promotional events and friendly matches.

The incident has once again highlighted the importance of security measures during such events. It is important for the organizers to ensure the safety of the players and the fans while conducting such events.

Meanwhile, Messi has continued with his promotional events in China. He has been promoting his latest deal with sportswear company Adidas and has also met fans and signed autographs for them.

Despite the incident, Messi has enjoyed his visit to China and has praised the fans for their support. He has also expressed his excitement at playing in China in the future and has said that he looks forward to the new challenge.

The detention of the teenager has been criticized by some people as an overreaction, while others have praised the police for maintaining the security protocol. The incident has raised important questions regarding the limits of fandom and the security measures needed to be taken at such events.