Lionel Messi shambles could have been avoided. Hong Kong’s former Manchester United player Charlie Scott explains how
- Charlie Scott was a member of the local XI who faced Inter Miami in the doomed friendly in Hong Kong
- Midfielder Scott defends Inter co-owner David Beckham, saying, ‘It was not his fault, booing him was wrong’
One of Hong Kong’s leading footballers says a gentleman’s agreement could have coaxed Lionel Messi on to the pitch during Inter Miami’s match in the city and averted the fury over the Argentinian’s no-show.
Kitchee midfielder Charlie Scott played the second half for the local league XI against Inter at a packed Hong Kong Stadium, and insisted his team would have agreed to treat Messi with kid gloves if the 36-year-old had appeared for a late cameo to satisfy fans.
Scott added that assembling a mishmash league select was “pointless”, and local football might have gained more from sending out the Hong Kong national team or one of the city’s leading clubs. But he felt the Messi situation could have been resolved before kick-off.
“They could have told us, ‘Messi will play the final 10 minutes, but he is injured. Don’t tackle him too hard, or go in 100 per cent against him. Let him have the ball, and pass it and move,’” Scott said.
“We would have accepted that for the fans to see him play.
“From a footballer’s perspective, we were playing against Inter Miami, not against Lionel Messi. But the fans paid a lot of money, and many of them travelled a long way, to watch one player, not Inter Miami. It was sad he did not play, or at least get on the mic to say a few words.”
