A young Chinese fan of soccer superstar Lionel Messi caused quite the boisterous stir during the friendly match between Argentina and Australia at the newly rebuilt Workers' Stadium in downtown Beijing on June 15.

An hour into the much-anticipated match, the man surnamed Di, 18, wearing an Argentina jersey with Messi's number 10 on the back, climbed down a 3-meter wall near the players' tunnel, gave security the slip and ran onto the pitch to hug his hero.

And managing to do so, he darted across the pitch, enthusiastically shaking hands with midfielder Marcos Javier Acuña and high-fiving goalkeeper Lisandro Martínez, before eventually being carried off by security, his face beaming with a huge grin. "His life is now complete," one comment read as a minute-long clip was widely circulated on Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, amassing 650 million views in just one day.

The following day, a police statement read the teenager had been detained in accordance with the law and was banned from entering stadiums to catch a soccer game for the next 12 months.

In a phone call to the organizer of the friendly match following his release on June 21, Di said he regretted what he had done, according to Southern Metropolis Daily. "I do hope to apologize to the Argentine and Australian teams—should the opportunity present itself. I'm just afraid my impulsive actions will create a negative impression of Chinese fans worldwide," Di was quoted as saying.

But as his pitch invasion took place to the adoring cheers of the stadium crowd, the question is: What does the public have to say about the 18-year-old fleet-footed fan's punishment?

Zhao Liangchen (Yangcheng Evening News): It is understandable to impose penalties on individuals involved in accordance with related laws and regulations. But spectators still find moments of joy in these unexpected actions.

Even though the game was of international significance and was interrupted by this fan suddenly dashing onto the pitch, most spectators had come there for reasons other than the game itself. The disruption did not necessarily detract from their overall experience; instead, it became a surprise, which aligned with the festive atmosphere of the occasion.

Rules should be respected and followed. When actions are harmless, and without malintent, and when those involved have already received a warning from the authorities, critics should just let it go, immerse themselves in the happiness of others and experience moments of empathy. It's similar to joyfully watching someone dance in a fountain on a sizzling summer day. In the foreseeable future, the image of a young fan sprinting through the Workers' Stadium will stay in the collective memory as the most captivating moment of the match.

Zhang Yijie (Global People): Was his pitch invasion illegal? Under Article 24 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Penalties for the Administration of Public Security, those who disrupt the order of sports events may be given a warning or fined up to 200 yuan ($27.7) or even be detained for five to 10 days. If violence is used in resistance against security personnel, resulting in injury, it may constitute a crime. For underage individuals, lighter punishments may still apply.

Therefore, this incident did violate regulation. There is precedence where domestic fans have been fined or banned from entering stadiums. In a later interview, Di mentioned how he'd sprained his ankle when jumping out of the stands and apologized for his actions. While it's natural to admire one's idol, fans should weigh the pros and cons of violating the law and giving into a fleeting passion. If jumping out of the stands had resulted in more than a sprained ankle, would he still have been smiling when being carried off the pitch? If every spectator behaved this way, how could Messi possibly continue to play?

That's why most fans, although they may express envy, prefer to watch the game from their seats. It's exciting to idolize stars, but it's important not to cross any lines—both literally and figuratively speaking.

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

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