Messi detained for lack of visa at China airport

Lionel Messi He was detained on Saturday by Chinese immigration authorities upon his arrival in the Asian country with the Argentine team.

The star had problems with his passport, so he had to wait patiently until everything was resolved, according to images captured at the scene by several of his fans who came excitedly to wait for him at the terminal.

"The captain and world champion was delayed at the airport due to problems with his passport. After a long wait, Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, who did not leave his side for a second, were able to join the rest," he said on Twitter the user Rosario3.com.

The video shows the player in the center of several officers who are talking, while he holds his passport in his hand.

According to the consul general of China in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Wang Jialei, Leo traveled to China with his Spanish passport but without a visa, so he had to wait two hours at the airport until Immigration granted him a visa as a special and urgent case. .

However, the version given later by the Argentine portal assures that the delay was about 30 minutes.

According to this information, Messi flew with his Spanish passport, but in China they had registered that he would arrive with his Argentine documents.

"When large delegations travel, as in the case of the national team, the immigration department of each country usually has a form where the passport data of each of the members is entered. That is why, when carrying Spanish and be listed with the Argentine, they had to corroborate the documentation," the media stated.

Finally, the passport situation was resolved and he was able to enter the country.

In China, the Argentine team will play the first of the games of the FIFA double date in June.

The match will be on Thursday against Australia at the newly renovated, 68,000-capacity Beijing Workers Stadium. Later he will fly to Jakarta to face the Indonesian team on the 19th of this month.

The arrival of the best player in the world has revolutionized the country, where his followers are desperate to see him up close.

Tickets for the meeting were sold between 580 and 4,800 yuan (approximately 620 euros) and sold out quickly.