- Government believes organisers owe fans an explanation after the match ended in boos; several spectators demanded a refund
- Event included a pre-match performance by Cantopop boy band Mirror members Keung To and Anson Lo Hon-ting
Hong Kong authorities are considering taking back funds for a high-profile football match after football star Messi shuns the pitch. Photo: Sam TsangTens 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.
“The Major Sports Events Committee will follow up with the organiser according to the terms of the agreement, including the possibility of deducting sponsorship funds because Messi failed to play.”
Messi fever grips Hong Kong before game between Inter Miami and city team
The government noted that the event organised by Tatler Asia had been given “M mark” status by the advisory committee, designating it as a major sporting event that would have official backing. Organisers received HK$15 million (US$1.92 million) in funds for the match and a HK$1 million venue subsidy.
In an another statement issued on Sunday night, the government said the way the organiser and Inter Miami handled the match had failed to meet expectations of fans, including the tourists who travelled to the city for the event.
One source told the SCMP that Messi’s team had been difficult to deal with, starting with their appearance on the airport tarmac after they landed in Hong Kong to a red-carpet welcome. They raised eyebrows by walking off the stage despite being asked to remain for official welcoming speeches.
The source said the government had been told in the morning that Messi would play as team captain and was not informed of any change of plan even when officials discovered his name was not on the list of players before kick-off.
According to a second source, the contract for the game stipulated that Messi play for a minimum of 45 minutes unless ill or injured.
Officials were only told Messi was injured, the first source said, and when he was still a no-show when the game ended, they requested he at least receive the trophy and offer a few words of explanation.
According to the source, Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham promised to explain and apologise when addressing fans at the stadium, but failed to do so.
In a statement released late on Sunday, Tatler Asia said it did not know that neither Messi nor Luis Suarez would play, and said they shared the “extreme disappointment” fans were feeling.
“We, alongside all football fans who attended that match, had been eagerly anticipating Messi’s and Suarez’s participation and share in the disappointment felt by everyone watching,” the organisers said.
“Despite some news reports, Tatler did not have any information about the non-participation of Messi or Suarez prior to kick off. Messi and Suarez were deemed unfit to play by their team’s medical department, to everyone’s, including ours, disappointment.”
Tatler Asia spent weeks promoting the game using Messi as the selling point, and responded angrily last month when the SCMP suggested he might not appear.
In an email, a spokeswoman wrote: “All Inter Miami marquee players will play in the upcoming fixture. This includes Lionel Messi.”
But just Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba did so, and then for just 28 minutes apiece.
Play to Thrive project promotes youth mental health through football
Luis Suarez did at least warm-up near one section of fans, but never seemed in any danger of making it onto the pitch.
The most expensive tickets went for HK$4,880, but those who left the ground loudly demanding refunds are likely to be left disappointed, given the terms and conditions of the ticket sale.
In addition, Tatler Asia had made it plain they reserved “the right to make alterations, additions, withdrawals or substitutes to the event line-up, as well as modify, cancel, terminate or temporarily suspend the event”.
Nigerian Antony Osazee, who works as an auditor in Hong Kong, said he paid more than HK$3,600 to see Messi conduct a training session on Saturday and play the friendly match on Sunday.
“I came for the training and just saw him doing stretches,” he said. “Messi isn’t a supermodel. People don’t pay just to watch him sit.”
Lawyer Eric Chan Pak-ho, who runs his own firm CPH Legal, pointed out that it was common sense that injury might prevent a player from appearing, and said Tatler Asia was unlikely to be vulnerable to prosecution, unless they had known Messi was not going to play but continued to market the game giving the impression he would.
While Tatler Asia’s reputation might be damaged, its behaviour “would fall short of any legal liabilities”.
Fans of Cantopop boy band Mirror also showed up to the game to watch the pre-match performance by members Keung To and Anson Lo Hon-ting.
Local indie-pop artist Gareth Tong Ling-shan, who also goes by the stage name Gareth.T, and mainland-based singer Gloria Tang Tsz-kei, better known as G.E.M, also performed at the event.