Mess as Messi misses Miami’s HK friendly, fans left seething
LIONEL Messi’s three 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 against a local League XI in a friendly in front of a sellout crowd on Sunday.
Spectators chanted “refund” and the Hong Kong government said match organizer Tatler Asia may face a reduction in funding after Messi stayed on the bench during the match.
The Hong Kong government issued a statement saying Messi should have played for at least 45 minutes in accordance with a sponsorship contract.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said the absence of Messi disappointed both fans and the local government. According to the contract between the local government and Tatler Asia, Messi should have played unless there were safety or health problems.
The Major Sports Events Committee had granted HK$15 million (US$1.92 million) for the event along with a HK$1 million grant for the venue, the government said in a statement.
“Regarding Messi not playing the match today, the government, as well as all football fans, are extremely disappointed about the organizers’ arrangement. The organizer owes all football fans an explanation,” it said.
“The MSEC will take follow-up action with the organizer according to the terms and conditions, which includes reducing the amount of funding as a result of Messi not playing the match.”
The organizers said they expected Messi and his former Barcelona teammate, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, to play and were extremely disappointed that they did not feature in the match.
“Messi and Suarez were deemed unfit to play by their team’s medical department, to everyone’s, including ours, disappointment.”
Miami head coach Gerardo Martino said playing Messi and Suarez could have posed a risk of aggravating their injuries. “Well, Leo has swelling in the adductor (muscle) .... when we sat down with the medical team they voiced their view that it was very risky for this footballer to play today,” he said.
“We understand the disappointment from the crowd who came to the stadium today that Leo and Luis were absent,” Martino told reporters
Some 40,000 fans had flocked to Hong Kong Stadium for Saturday’s training session, chanting “Messi! Messi! Messi!” and holding aloft copies of his No. 10 jersey as he and club co-owner David Beckham interacted with local children.
The World Cup winner had been mobbed by adoring fans decked out in Argentina’s blue and white or Miami’s pink since landing from Saudi Arabia on Friday, with hundreds waiting outside the team hotel to try and get a glimpse of the 36-year-old.
(Shanghai Daily/Reuters)