# Angolan civil society groups has urged the Argentinian soccer federation and star player Lionel Messi to scrap planning for a friendly this year after 30 people were killed in protests. The soccer associations of both countries have been in talks to fix a date for a match in Luanda in November as part of celebrations of Angola’s 50 years of independence. In an open letter addressed to the Argentine association, the national team and Lionel Messi Foundation charity, Catholic, legal and pro-democracy organisations accused Angolan authorities of “systematic repression”.
Angolan civil society groups want soccer match featuring Lionel Messi scrapped