- Tatler Asia apologised to fans and said refund details will be announced before mid-March, but will only apply to tickets bought through official channels
- Government says it welcomes move and organiser has shown ‘positive and responsible attitude’
A much-hyped Lionel Messi appearance in Hong Kong intended to lift the city’s spirits ended with boos on Sunday as the World Cup winner sat out his team’s friendly with a local team. Photo: BloombergFrustrated fans of Argentine football star Lionel Messi who paid to watch him in action in Hong Kong, but were left disappointed when he missed the game entirely, would be given a 50 per cent refund on tickets, organisers Tatler Asia said on Friday.
In a statement released after organisers reportedly met government officials on Friday morning, Tatler said details of the refund would be released before mid-March, but it would only apply to tickets bought through official channels.
Tatler also apologised to all the fans who were left disappointed by the episode, which it said it had hoped would “become the pride of Hong Kong”.
“We will not evade our responsibilities as an organiser, so Tatler Asia will provide a 50 per cent refund to the public who purchased match day tickets through official channels,” it said.
Authorities said they welcomed the arrangement.
“The government welcomes the relevant decision and believes that the compensation plan of the organiser Tatler Asia is a responsible approach and shows its positive and responsible attitude,” it said.
“According to the relevant game accounts disclosed by the organiser … Tatler Asia has made its best efforts and [shown] sincerity [by arranging] a refund of 50 per cent of the ticket price in response to the demands of all sectors of society.”
But authorities said they understood the public still had “many questions” regarding Messi’s absence on the pitch in Hong Kong, especially since the player became “active and conducted intense exercise” just three days later in Japan.
“The government hopes that Inter Miami CF will eventually provide a reasonable explanation to Hong Kong people, and the fans who came to Hong Kong to watch the game.”
Lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-piu on Thursday delivered an ultimatum outside the Small Claims Tribunal in West Kowloon, saying that more than a dozen people were ready to file their claims if Tatler Asia did not explain within a week why Messi stayed on the bench and offer refunds to those who paid more than HK$3,000 (US$384) each for tickets.
As of Friday 2pm, the city’s consumer watchdog has logged 1,038 complaints linked to ticket sales for the match, including 265 from tourists. Claims have snowballed to about HK$8.9 million.
Disappointment over the game, supported by the government, has prompted a review of authorities’ system that offers organisers of large-scale sports events extra funding and logistics support.
Sports minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung also said the government had never seen the details of the contract between the organiser and Inter Miami, despite an understanding that Messi would play for 45 minutes unless he was injured.