Chinese fan runs onto the field to hug Messi during controversial Beijing match
During the highly-anticipated Australia v. Argentina friendly match in Beijing on Thursday, an enthusiastic Chinese fan stormed the field in an attempt to hug soccer legend Lionel Messi.
Video from the game shows the unidentified fan rush up and embrace Messi, while being chased all over the field by security. The crowd in the stadium can be heard shouting Chinese phrases that sort of translate to “Awesome!” and “Badass!”
The invader managed to high-five one of the goalies before finally being apprehended by security, but did not lose his gleeful smile even as he was being carried out.
In an interview with Messi’s fan club, he apologized for his behavior, while criticizing the security measures.
“Of course, I also hope to use my negative case to tell the security personnel that your security work is not competent and gave me such an opportunity,” he said. “There will be many international competitions in Beijing in the future. I hope you will improve your security capabilities.”
Chinese state media widely covered “Messi mania,” with the Global Times tabloid reporting that fans from across the country had flocked to Beijing just to get a glimpse of the soccer star.
The tabloid also reported that hotel prices near the stadium have soared to over $1,000 USD per night, and scams claiming to give fans an opportunity to meet Messi have proliferated in recent days.
In Argentina, many see the match as an economic incentive to boost business ties with China. Combined with another upcoming friendly match against Indonesia’s national team in Jakarta, the Argentina Football Association will ultimately pocket $6 million USD for the matches, La Nacion newspaper reports.
But the association is also hoping to finalize a deal to open two Football Technological Institutes in China’s Guangxi and Jiangsu provinces, the paper reports, which will employ the same coaching methods used in Buenos Aires.
Moment a pitch invader breaks through guards and rushes onto the pitch to hug Lionel Messi during Socceroos’ Beijing game - before slamming security for being useless
From: Daily Mail
A football fan managed to meet his idol Lionel Messi in the flesh in China - but how he went about it has raised security concerns.
The supporter burst onto the pitch at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing and hugged his hero while wearing the iconic Argentina number 10 jersey.
In comical scenes, he went onto high-five goalkeeper Emi Martinez before eventually being nabbed by security during the friendly against the Socceroos.
Footage shows the man being carried away from the venue.
The pitch invader later apologised for his conduct - but not before criticising security for being slow to act.
‘I hope to use my negative case to tell the security personnel that your security work is not competent and gave me such an opportunity,’ he said.
‘There will be many international competitions in Beijing in the future. I hope you will improve your security capabilities.’
生词记录
highly-anticipated 备受期待的
enthusiastic 热心的，热情的，热衷的
storm 突袭，攻占；闯，冲
legend 传说，传奇故事，传奇人物；说明，图例
unidentified 未知的，不明的，保密的
phrase 短语，说法，用语，警句
badass 能人，狠角色；坏人，坏蛋；厉害的，很好的；粗野的，蛮横的
invader 入侵者
high-five 举手击掌
goalie 守门员
apprehend 逮捕；领会，理解
gleeful 高兴的，兴奋的
competent 有能力的，能干的，称职的
cover 承保；足够支付；报道
mania 狂热，热衷；痴迷；狂躁症
tabloid 通俗小报
flock to 蜂拥而至，成群结队地去
glimpse 一瞥；短暂的感受
soar 急剧增加；高飞，翱翔；升空，升腾
scam 骗局，欺诈，诈骗
proliferate 激增，扩散
incentive 激励，刺激，鼓励
boost 改善，提高，增强，推动
pocket 口袋；保留（钱）作为收益；窃取，侵吞，把···据为己有
finalize 把（计划，日期等）最后定下
employ 使用，利用
pitch 足球场，运动场地；竭力劝说；投球
slam 重重撞上；严厉批评，猛烈抨击
in the flesh 当面，活生生地
iconic 偶像的，受欢迎的
comical 滑稽的，古怪可笑的
nab 抢夺，猛然抓住，抓获，逮捕
socceroos 澳大利亚国家足球队简称
footage 片段镜头
