Luisa Tam

My Hong Kong | Messi in Hong Kong fiasco: how Beckham could have averted ‘PR disaster of the century’, fans’ impressive control, and what the government has to learn

There is much to reflect on in the aftermath of the Inter Miami vs Hong Kong Team match, as chants of ‘scam’ and ‘refund’ continue to echo in the city

For starters, David Beckham, a football legend himself, could have symbolically joined the match, even if only briefly, serving as an indirect apology to fans

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Lionel Messi sits on the bench during an exhibition match between Inter Miami and the Hong Kong Team in Hong Kong Stadium on February 4, 2024. Could David Beckham have helped avoid a PR disaster by taking the star’s place, if only for a few minutes? Photo: Sam Tsang

Luisa Tam

Published: 8:15am, 10 Feb 2024

“Scam of the century” and “refund” were among the angry chants directed at Lionel Messi and Inter Miami due to the football legend’s absence from the Hong Kong pitch during the much-publicised exhibition match on February 4.

These chants continue to resonate throughout the city, and Messi’s subsequent participation in a game in Japan just three days later only added insult to injury for local fans.

The incident, now infamous as the “Messi Mess”, continues to dominate headlines worldwide after the football icon failed to play even a single minute in the highly anticipated exhibition match due to an injury.

A crowd of nearly 40,000 fans filled the Hong Kong Stadium, many of whom had paid premium prices for tickets, or exorbitant sums for scalped ones, eagerly anticipating watching Messi’s performance. Instead, they were not just disappointed but deeply hurt by his behaviour during the match, with the star seeming glum and disengaged throughout.

Fans react to Messi’s non-appearance during the exhibition match in Hong Kong. Photo: AP

These vivid images of his demeanour in Hong Kong are in stark contrast with his manner during the friendly game against Vissel Kobe in Japan on Wednesday, where he was seen smiling and waving at fans.