Soccer fans in Bangladesh, one of the world’s poorest countries, have reacted with fury over ticket prices set at a minimum of US$100 to see superstar Lionel Messi lead out Argentina in a friendly.
The stylish South Americans, who have had a massive following in Bangladesh since the 1980s, will play in the capital Dhaka this evening against Nigeria, but only half of the tickets for the game have so far been sold — the biggest soccer match in the country’s history — with many fans unable to afford the entry price.
Passion for the beautiful game runs deep in Bangladesh, despite the national team’s lowly ranking of No. 139 in the world and the long-standing dominance of cricket.
During the World Cup last year, the country was covered in Argentine and Brazilian flags as raucous fans adopted one side or the other and supported them with ferocious loyalty.
Messi’s scheduled arrival yesterday from India, where Argentina beat Venezuela in another friendly on Friday, was likely to trigger huge excitement in the nation of 150 million people.
However, minimum ticket prices of 7,500 taka (US$100) and the expense of Eid al-Fitr celebrations last week marking the end of Ramadan could leave rows of empty seats at the 24,000-capacity Bangabandhu National Stadium.
“It’s a ridiculous price. They don’t want real soccer fans to watch Messi’s match. I earn just 8,000 taka per month. How can I afford a ticket?” Rajib Ahmed, 25, a chemical tester at a private company, asked outside the ground. “I saved some money and bought a ticket for Monday’s practice session. It costs 1,000 taka, which is still too much. I just want to see Messi in action. He is the best player on Earth.”
Like many Bangladeshis, Rajib’s love of Argentina is rooted in the team’s glorious past.
“Our family has been supporting the side since the heyday of [Diego] Maradona,” he said. “We would have bought tickets for the match had they lowered the price to perhaps 2,000 taka.”
Ahead of 2014 World Cup qualifiers starting next month, Argentina — under new coach Alejandro Sabella — are on a two-match tour of India and Bangladesh to boost interest in the game in South Asia.
Their 1-0 win over Venezuela in Kolkata on Friday was played in front of nearly 80,000 cheering fans, with comprehensive coverage by Indian television stations and newspapers.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) says it has spent US$4 million bringing today’s match to Dhaka in the hope it would raise the sport’s profile and inspire young people.
“If you want to see Messi play, there is some cost,” Anwarul Haq Helal, head of the BFF’s organizing committee, said on Sunday. “We have sold only 50 percent of the tickets at the moment. We did not expect this. It’s the biggest soccer match in Bangladesh’s history. We are still hopeful all tickets will be sold just before the match. I am confident once Messi arrives here, things will change. After Eid celebrations is not a good time for people to be spending money, and many went back to their home villages for Eid and have not yet returned to Dhaka.”
Bangladesh was gripped by soccer fever during last year’s World Cup — though Argentina were knocked out in the quarter-finals.
When power cuts hit television coverage during several matches, fans were so angry that riots erupted, electricity stations were attacked and the government ordered factories to stop work to avoid further blackouts.
Bangladeshi fans may even struggle to see the game on television after broadcaster ESPN was reportedly unable to strike a deal with the organizers.
The FIFA-sanctioned match will now be shown on a small satellite channel that many locals do not receive.
“I very much wanted to go to the match, but I had to give up hope,” Daud Hossain, 55, said. “Instead, I’ve just bought two tickets for the practice session for my son and niece. The organizers are just ripping money out of our pockets to fill up their coffers.”
Domestic sides from Europe are increasingly keen to tap into their Asian support base, with the region’s young population and growing economies seen as offering huge potential.
Bangladesh has itself enjoyed economic growth, but has been off the radar for overseas teams focused on wealthier Asian nations.
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