Hongkongers, tourists mourn wasted chance to see Messi play after spending thousands on seats at high-profile match
- Government says it will seek explanation from organisers after Argentinian football star stayed on sidelines for Inter Miami, Hong Kong XI game
- ‘Regarding Messi not playing the match today, the government, as well as all football fans, are extremely disappointed about the organisers’ arrangement,’ authorities add
Seeing Argentine football star Lionel Messi play in Hong Kong was an item that business consultant Alexi Huang, 29, and university student Tommy Li, 20, hoped to cross off their bucket list.
But they came away disappointed when the footballers failed to take to the pitch during Sunday’s match between Inter Miami and Hong Kong XI.
“I bought all the merch just to support Messi. I know Messi only appeared for seven minutes in a recent game,” Li said. “But just one or two minutes would be enough for me.
“I didn’t expect his performance to be on a par with those during his prime time.”
The duo spent more than HK$9,000 (US$1,150) on front-row tickets and an hour-long trip from Guangzhou, as well as thousands more on merchandise for the match at Hong Kong Stadium.
Li, a Messi fan for at least five years and who had donned a T-shirt with the star footballer’s portrait for the big day, said he was beyond disappointed.
Outraged fans also took to social media to vent their anger, with some saying they had “paid a mortgage just to see Messi play live for perhaps two minutes” only for the superstar to sit the entire game out.
Some spectators left the match early over the incident, while others could be heard shouting “refund” in Cantonese. One fan was seen furiously drop-kicking a life-size cut-out of Messi.
As it happened: fans’ anger as Messi sits out Inter Miami v Hong Kong match
Marco Hu Kun-ming, who is studying commerce at Australia’s University of Melbourne, said he had paid HK$1,500 to see the game at Hong Kong Stadium that afternoon and expressed his dissatisfaction with Messi’s absence.
“I flew from Melbourne for this. We waited a long time but he never showed up,” the 21-year-old Hongkonger said. “I’m really disappointed.”
Fellow residents Elaine Law, 32, and her partner Total Ling Pak-to said they had forked out HK$2,200 each to watch the game.
“I feel like a fool,” Law said.
Ling, 33, said Messi had appeared extensively in local advertising for the game, fostering expectations the football superstar would play in the match.
“I’ve been waiting almost 10 years to see him,” he said. “This is a rare opportunity to see him, because he might be retiring soon. We are very disappointed.”
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The Post observed a sea of fans wearing Inter Miami pink jerseys at the match, dotted by an island of spectators in the blue-and-white of Argentina’s national team and the red-and-blue of FC Barcelona, paying tribute to Messi’s football career over the last two decades.
Organisers said more than 38,000 spectators had come to the stadium for the match.
02:28
Messi mania as football superstar arrives in Hong Kong
The first 40 minutes of the game saw both teams struggling to break the deadlock before Inter Miami’s Ryan Taylor scored the first goal of the match, sending a shock wave through the audience.
But Hong Kong XI’s Henri Anier followed up with a goal less than two minutes later, prompting rounds of applause from fans.
Once the dust had settled, Inter Miami had defeated its opponent 4-1.
Merchandise on offer at the stadium, including jerseys, jumpers and T-shirts, was almost sold out about 60 minutes after the match started.
Fans of Cantopop boy band Mirror also showed up to the game to watch the prematch performance by members Keung To and Anson Lo Hon-ting.
Local indie-pop artist Gareth Tong Ling-shan, who also goes by the stage name Gareth.T, and mainland-based singer Gloria Tang Tsz-kei, better known as G.E.M, also performed at the event.
Inter Miami arrived in the city on Friday and attended the open training session on Saturday at the stadium, where several spectators invaded the pitch in an attempt to get autographs and take selfies with the players.
Despite authorities condemning such behaviour and vowing to strengthen security for Sunday, one managed to invade the pitch after the match and get an autograph from Inter Miami co-owner and football icon David Beckham.
The game was earlier expected to bring in more income for local night spots, with the Hong Kong Bars and Clubs Association predicting a 20 to 30 per cent boost in business.
But bar operators on Sunday said the game had failed to increase the number of patrons.
Devils Advocate general manager Chris Foalle said the bar on Lockhart Road had failed to bring in more customers with a live screening of the match and only a few people had stopped by after the game.
