Messi affair in Hong Kong: no-show Argentine football legend leaves fans furious, sparks calls for refund
- Fans came from across the region to watch Lionel Messi play a friendly match at Hong Kong Stadium but the game ended in boos as he failed to take to the field
- Government says it’s ‘extremely disappointed’ about organiser’s arrangement, while lawmaker calls for partial refund and return of subsidy money
Tens of thousands of fans who paid premium prices or spent exorbitant sums on scalped tickets to watch Lionel Messi play in Hong Kong left deeply disappointed as the football star sat out the highly anticipated exhibition game on Sunday.
The government demanded answers from the organisers, who had led the city to believe Messi would play despite an injury, and threatened to take back some of the millions it spent on sponsoring the mega event as part of a wider campaign to raise Hong Kong’s international profile.
Sources said Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who attended the much-publicised and eagerly anticipated show, had been assured that the Argentine football idol would play.
Loud booing rang out across Hong Kong Stadium when the game ended with Messi’s Inter Miami beating the home team 4-1.
“Regarding Messi not playing the match today, the government, as well as all football fans, are extremely disappointed about the organiser’s arrangement. The organiser owes all football fans an explanation,” the government said in a statement issued as frustrated fans took to social media to vent their anger.
