Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Lionel Messi stayed on the bench for the whole 90 minutes of the Hong Kong friendly By Nicholas Yong BBC News, Singapore Lionel Messi played in a Japan friendly after missingouton a match in Hong Kong, leaving Chinese fans seething and triggering conspiracy theories. State media outlet Global Times implicated the footballer and his club Inter Miami of “political intentions” with the objective of “embarrassing” Hong Kong. Messi stayed on the bench throughout Sunday’s match in the Chinese unique administrative area, pointingout injury. Wednesday’s videogame in Tokyo led some fans to concern whether he’d been hurt. Some 38,000 fans at the Hong Kong Stadium booed and required refunds when Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham dealtwith the crowd at the end of Sunday’s match. They had paid up to HK$4,880 (£494; $624) to watch the 36-year-old Argentine superstar. Media caption, A pity I couldn’t play in Hong Kong friendly – Messi Just last year, Messi got a rock star welcome in Beijing when he played for his nation in a friendly versus Australia. Some 68,000 fans paid up to $680 for the possibility to see him in action. He is likewise a representative for huge Chinese brandnames such as Huawei, Chery
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