Topic
For the city, this was a mega event, a chance to show the world it was back. For Messi and teammates, it was just another preseason match
China’s cancellation of the Argentine football team’s mainland tour may have more to do with new president Javier Milei than the star player.
There is much to reflect on after the Inter Miami vs Hong Kong Team fiasco, such as how David Beckham could have averted a PR disaster, Hong Kong fans’ behaviour, and what the government can learn.
Lionel Messi sitting out the Inter Miami vs Hong Kong exhibition game was because of an injury and not his fault, and the idea he should have addressed fans to explain the situation is misconceived.
Football star leaves tens of thousands of fans outraged and entire city disappointed after sitting out much-anticipated exhibition match.
Lionel Messi’s no-show on the pitch at Hong Kong Stadium was a slap in the face for fans, and organisers – including the government – have a lot to answer for.
Arrival of legendary World Cup-winning footballer excites both fans and officials keen to show Hong Kong’s return to the global stage.
- But Consumer Council says those who bought tickets for February friendly match using e-payment systems may need to drop complaints to banks to collect cash
- Organiser Tatler earlier said 50 per cent refund available to customers if they dropped legal complaints, claims or payment reversal requests to official ticket seller Klook
‘I have experience of going to three different countries in 10 days,’ midfielder Ilkay Gundogan says. ‘It makes it very difficult.’
With Lionel Messi’s club Inter Miami condemned and his Argentina national team no longer welcome, past rows involving NBA and WTA offer clues as to what those involved risk losing.
The world champions will play in Philadelphia and Los Angeles in March after a pair of friendlies in China were axed following the Lionel Messi fiasco in Hong Kong.
Kitchee’s former Manchester United player Charlie Scott also defends Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, saying, ‘It was not his fault, booing him was wrong.’
The centre-back also says he would welcome Lionel Messi back to Hong Kong after being deprived of a chance to face the Argentine great.
Amid speculation over where Argentina will now play in March, a video in which Lionel Messi cites his ‘special relationship with China’ prompts plenty to respond saying he is not welcome.
‘I’ve heard people say that I didn’t want to play for political reasons and many other reasons that are totally untrue,’ soccer player says in two-minute video posted on Weibo.
Tatler Asia chairman Michel Lamuniere tells media outlet he only discovered Messi would not play ‘15 minutes before’ the game started, after earlier saying he was only informed the star would not take to the field late in second half of match.
Readers discuss the Argentinian football star’s failure to play in a match in Hong Kong, and the narrative of the city's naysayers.
Days after sitting out the Hong Kong match, Lionel Messi starts Miami’s preseason game against Argentine team Newell’s Old Boys and plays for an hour.
Readers discuss Lionel Messi’s failure to play in a match in Hong Kong, and the welfare of racehorses.
Beijing Football Association says ‘no plans’ for Messi to play in China after Argentine national squad, captained by the star, scheduled two matches in country for March.
Mainlanders are calling for various boycotts on popular Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu.
Cristiano Ronaldo addresses fans in Chinese and gets Al Nassr teammates involved in another PR win, proving he’s the best off the field.
Hangzhou Sports Bureau said in a statement on Friday evening that the conditions for hosting the match were not mature given the ‘reasons that everyone knows’.
A sports injury specialist at an English Premier League club says nothing strange over Lionel Messi missing game, but leading health academic says severity should not have stopped Inter Miami star playing.
Lawmaker Bill Tang warns more than a dozen people ready to file complaints to court if Tatler Asia does not offer proper explanation over Messi’s failure to play.
Readers discuss the need to improve Hong Kong event management ‘software’, traffic light programming, and the waste-charging scheme.
Players who faced Inter Miami and starred in Asian Cup beaten in Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup second leg in mainland China, then lose on penalties – but had to do it without some vital personnel.
Lionel Messi comes on as substitute in Miami’s game against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, but cannot prevent a penalty shoot-out defeat.
Government says Hongkongers deserve explanation after Messi plays 30 minutes in Tokyo, as it emerges organisers paid almost US$7 million for Argentina star and Inter Miami to visit Hong Kong.
