HONG KONG — Lionel Messi’s 3 days of adulation in Hong Kong ended in heartbreak for his fans as the Argentine did not take to the field in Inter Miami’s 4-1 win versus a regional League XI in a friendly played in front of a sellout crowd on Sunday.
Spectators shouted “refund” and the Hong Kong federalgovernment stated match organizers Tatler Asia might face a decrease in financing after Messi remained on the bench throughout the match.
The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) had approved 15 million Hong Kong dollars ($1.92 million) for the occasion along with a 1 million Hong Kong dollar grant for the place, the federalgovernment stated in a declaration.
“Regarding Messi not playing the match today, the Government, as well as all football fans, are very dissatisfied about the organizers’ plan. The organizer owes all football fans an description,” they stated.
“The MSEC will take follow-up actions with the organizer according to the terms and conditions, which consistsof decreasing the quantity of financing as a outcome of Messi not playing the match.”
The organizers stated they anticipated Messi and his previous Barcelona colleague, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, to play and were very dissatisfied that they did not function