Lionel Messi is currently nursing a hamstring strain. As a result, he failed to appear during a sold-out preseason game in Hong Kong on Sunday.
The local government demands an explanation, though it is unclear as to what more Inter Miami could possibly say. Lionel Messi is injured so he did not play in the preseason soccer match.
Regarding Messi not playing the match today, the government, as well as all football fans, are extremely disappointed about the organisers’ arrangement. The organisers owe all football fans an explanation.
— Hong Kong government statement
While sitting out for health reasons seems legitimate in nature, there are questions about the way in which the entire event was presented. Messi was on the pitch for an open training session one day prior.
He and Luis Suárez were then deemed unfit for play approximately 24 hours later.
We understand the disappointment of the fans for the absence of Leo and Luis Suárez. We understand a lot of fans are very disappointed and we as for their forgiveness. We wish we could have sent Leo and Luis on for at least a while but the risk was too big.
— Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino
The fans were angry because they paid up to about $600 for a ticket to see Messi.
He spent all 90 minutes on the bench.
They made sure to express their frustrations when it became clear that he was not going to sub on. Messi played in the final seven minutes of the game prior, so the stands in Hong Kong were full until the very end despite the anticlimactic and disappointing end. They were merciless with their boos and chants rang out for a refund.
Brand HK 😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/SXG5RKHeTy pic.twitter.com/j7K29tgjqi
— Justin (@hurtingbombz) February 4, 2024
Their boos only escalated in volume after the final whistle.
Messi’s face was plastered all over the marketing assets for the match. It was presented as though both he and Suárez would play. They did not.
Hong Kong’s Major Sports Events Committee had granted approximately $1.92 million for the event, along with about $130,000 for the venue. The government may issue a funding reduction to the match organizers, Tatler Asia, because Messi stayed on the bench.
The MSEC will take follow-up actions with the organiser according to the terms and conditions, which includes reducing the amount of funding as a result of Messi not playing the match.
— Hong Kong government statement
It will be interesting to see how Hong Kong chooses to move forward with the fallout from Sunday’s match. Fans are calling for their money back. There is no clear answer as to who would be on the hook for that money and it seems as though they will be forced to eat the cost.