MIAMI – Inter Miami have apologised for Lionel Messi's inability to play an exhibition game in Hong Kong, a late decision that infuriated fans, leading to the organisers offering a 50 per cent refund.
Argentinian Messi, a record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, did not warm up in front of the 40,000 fans in Hong Kong Stadium on Feb 4. He was being assessed by medical staff who decided it was too risky for him and teammate Luis Suarez to play.
“Despite our best intentions, we understand there has been disappointment over the absence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in Sunday’s match and we are sorry that they could not participate,” Major League Soccer team Miami said in a statement on Feb 8.
“We also recognise that the late decision caused frustration among our Hong Kong supporters and the event promoter, Tatler Asia.
“We do feel it necessary to express that injuries are unfortunately a part of the Beautiful Game, and our player’s health must always come first...
“As we continue to consume the headlines and negativity towards the different stakeholders, we felt compelled to reiterate the reality of these types of sports injuries.”
Miami said they wanted to make a game-time decision on Messi and Suarez so it offered the largest window to allow for the chance they could play.
Three days later, the 36-year-old Messi came on in the 60th minute in Inter Miami's friendly against J-League side Vissel Kobe in Tokyo where entire blocks of the Japan National Stadium seats remained unoccupied, with only 28,614 tickets sold.
Fans at the sold-out Hong Kong game, which Miami won 4-1 over a local League XI, chanted “refund”, while the Hong Kong government said match organisers Tatler Asia may face a reduction in funding.
The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) had granted HK$15 million (S$2.6 million) for the event along with a HK$1 million grant for the venue, the government said in a statement.
After the backlash, organisers Tatler XFEST Hong Kong first pulled out of the grant programme, with Tatler Asia CEO saying on Feb 5 that he “deeply regrets the disappointing ending to what was an exciting occasion”.
On Feb 9, the organisers went one step further, saying they would issue a 50 per cent refund to ticket holders worth US$7.2 million (S$9.7 million).
The refund means the luxury lifestyle brand will record a loss of HK$43 million from the event, instead of a planned profit of HK$13 million, according to the statement.
Inter Miami said they would be eager to return to Hong Kong, should the fans be open to receiving the club again.
However, sports lawmaker Kenneth Fok said the incident “sprinkled salt wounds” on Hong Kong fans, while senior government adviser Regina Ip wrote on X that “Hong Kong people hate Messi, Inter Miami and the black hand behind them, for the deliberate and calculated snub to Hong Kong”. REUTERS, BLOOMBERG
