Refunds close chapter on Messi snub to Hong Kong
- Organiser says customers who bought tickets through official channels can receive 50 per cent refund if they apply by April 12 deadline
At long last, the dust may finally be settling on the tumultuous visit of Lionel Messi to Hong Kong last month. One would be hard pressed to find anyone in town who doesn’t recall the snub the Inter Miami footballer paid fans when he sat on the bench during a February 4 friendly at Hong Kong Stadium, disappointing thousands who had flocked to see their hero play in the flesh.
In the latest – and hopefully the final – development in the saga, it seems those fans may finally be getting a refund.
The organiser, Tatler Asia, said this week that customers who bought tickets through official channels would get a 50 per cent refund by May. Emails were to be sent out detailing how to claim the refund for tickets bought from the official ticket seller Klook by April 12.
Additional controversy was stirred when Tatler said those seeking refunds needed to drop legal complaints, claims or payment reversal requests to Klook before collecting.
The Hong Kong Consumer Council has since weighed in, clarifying that anyone seeking their money back can arrange to do so without dropping complaints to the watchdog. But Gilly Wong Fung-han, the council’s chief executive, said those who filed complaints with their banks or credit card issuers may need to drop those first as their transactions would be on hold.
Those who bought tickets from a secondary source or scalpers are likely out of luck.
The Argentine footballer cited injury when he failed to play in Hong Kong, but could have done some damage control had he bothered to take a lap or two of the stadium to wave or sign a few jerseys for fans, some of whom flew into town or spent up to HK$4,880 (US$623) per ticket. Adding to the insult to Hong Kong and mainland China fans, just days later Messi took to the pitch in a half-empty Japan National Stadium to play against Vissel Kobe for the final 30 minutes.
Messi fans can seek refunds without dropping complaints to Hong Kong watchdog
Since then, Hong Kong’s ability to handle international sporting events has been on display with a world-class LIV golf tournament. Hong Kong Stadium will host the annual Rugby Sevens tournament in April before it shifts to a larger venue in Kai Tak next year.
Soon, the cheers pouring through the stadium will drown out the groans and put the fallout from Messi’s visit to rest, once and for all.
