Advertisement
The Football Association of Hong Kong, China
SportHong Kong

After China’s Messi divorce, football counts cost of own-goal in Hong Kong

  • The world’s most celebrated footballer Lionel Messi felt the wrath of a nation over his no-show in a sold-out match
  • With Messi’s club Inter Miami condemned and his Argentina national team no longer welcome, past rows involving NBA and WTA indicate what they risk losing

Reading Time:8 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
22
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Tom Bell,Mike ChanandPaul McNamara

The change of mood around Inter Miami’s visit to Hong Kong was nothing if not swift.

Advertisement

Greeted as heroes when Lionel Messi and his teammates landed on the first Friday of February after weeks of hype, the US football club by the Monday departed as villains.

A switch had been flicked when the Argentinian, his sport’s greatest player, watched from the sidelines rather than taking part in a match in the city that had sold out on the promise of him playing, unless ill or injured. His aloofness compounded anger in China. Refunds were demanded. Banners of worship became placards marked “scam”. Bouquets turned to brickbats in three days.
When the superstar, said to have had an adductor injury, played in Japan on the Wednesday, querying of Miami’s and Messi’s motives pushed the matter into geopolitical territory.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were welcomed on their arrival at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Sam Tsang
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were welcomed on their arrival at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Sam Tsang

As the fallout reverberated from Beijing to Florida to Buenos Aires, decision-makers in US and Argentine football faced a prospect that previously confronted US basketball and women’s tennis: losing access to China’s market of 1.4 billion people.

Relative values: Messi and China

At stake are broadcast deals, endorsements, merchandise sales and more. China’s sports market is expected to grow 5.2 per cent annually in the next three to five years, reaching 5 trillion yuan (US$695 billion) by 2035, PwC China partner Harrison Liu told last weekend’s Greater Bay Area International Sports Business Summit in Macau.

Advertisement