Lionel Messi no-show at Inter Miami friendly sparks outrage in Hong Kong – round-up by Peter Parks / AFP

2024-02-05 17:45:12
PETER PARKS / AFP Announced during an Inter Miami friendly match once morest a selection of players from Hong Kong, Sunday February 4, Lionel Messi remained on the sidelines for the entire duration of the match.

PETER PARKS / AFP

Announced during an Inter Miami friendly match once morest a selection of players from Hong Kong, Sunday February 4, Lionel Messi remained on the sidelines for the entire duration of the match.

FOOTBALL – Thousands of supporters hoped to see him until the last minute. Promised to supporters with great communication, the absence of Lionel Messi during an Inter Miami friendly match once morest a selection of players from Hong Kong, Sunday February 4, sparked an outpouring of sadness and above all of rage.

The organizer of the match, Tatler Asia, had committed to having the athlete play at least 45 minutes, the Hong Kong Minister of Sports revealed this Monday, February 5. Despite the promises, Messi remained on the bench for the duration of the friendly match won 4-1. Questioned, the CEO of Tatler Asia confirmed that Messi was under contract to enter the field, except in the event of injury. However, the captain of the world champion Argentina team officially suffers from a strained hamstring.

His package angered the 38,323 spectators who had paid a minimum of 125 dollars (115 euros) – and in many cases five times more – to see their idol in action. The songs “repay!” » and the screams crescendoed until the final whistle. And Englishman David Beckham, co-owner of the Miami club, was drowned in boos when he tried to thank the crowd.

An absence that takes on many proportions

The absence of Lionel Messi is becoming a matter of state. The Hong Kong government issued two consecutive statements on Sunday evening, saying it “extremely disappointed” and threatening to withdraw €1.9 million in public funding from Tatler Asia, a media outlet specializing in fashion, luxury goods and leisure.

PETER PARKS / AFP Lionel Messi’s participation in this friendly match was the subject of a communication campaign in Hong Kong.

PETER PARKS / AFP

Lionel Messi’s participation in this friendly match was the subject of a communication campaign in Hong Kong.

“One of the main conditions of our funding agreement with Tatler Asia was that Messi participates in the match for at least 45 minutes, subject to fitness and safety considerations”said Kevin Yeung, Hong Kong’s secretary for culture, sports and tourism, at a press conference on Monday. “Yesterday, before the start of the match, organizer Tatler Asia reaffirmed that Messi would play in the second half”he explained.

Kevin Yeung, who attended the match at the stadium with other officials including Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, said the local government had tried to negotiate with the organizer when the 36-year-old years did not appear on the field at the start of the second half. Negotiations reached an impasse ten minutes before the end of the match, as the « solutions » such as Messi’s appearance on the pitch to interact with fans and receive the trophy were denied.

At midday on Monday, the Hong Kong Consumer Council announced that it had received nearly forty complaints regarding this meeting.

Tatler Asia was quick to speak out in a published statement, emphasizing its sorrow at not having seen the player perform. “Tatler Asia deeply regrets the disappointing ending” of what might have been a « super occasion », announced President and CEO Michel Lamunière. He added that Tatler had “decided to officially withdraw its request for government subsidy”.

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