The Hong Kong government has raised concerns and demanded answers from Inter Miami CF and Lionel Messi himself after the Argentine superstar missed a friendly match in Hong Kong but played in a similar exhibition match in Japan just three days later. Hong Kong’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau expressed disappointment in a statement, pointing out the apparent inconsistency in Messi’s availability. The government expects a reasonable explanation from the organizers and teams involved.
A Puzzling Turn of Events
Messi’s absence in the Hong Kong match left many fans in the financial hub dismayed. Despite a highly anticipated event and a sell-out crowd, the 36-year-old did not step onto the field, leaving fans demanding answers and even requesting refunds. Prior to the game, Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino had hinted that Messi was likely to play, only to declare him unfit just before the match.
The Argentine superstar, known for his passion and dedication to the game, contradicted his own absence in Hong Kong when he played as a substitute in Miami’s shootout loss to Japanese side Vissel Kobe three days later. In his pre-match interview in Japan, Messi expressed his desire to play in every game, especially when traveling far and exciting fans. The sudden change in his availability raised eyebrows and led the Hong Kong government to seek explanations from the organizers.
The match in Hong Kong drew an impressive crowd of 40,000 spectators, with some fans paying up to nearly HK$5,000 ($640) per ticket. In contrast, the exhibition game in Tokyo failed to attract a similar level of attendance, leaving entire blocks of seating unoccupied and only 28,614 tickets sold. China’s state-controlled Global Times saw this discrepancy as a basis for questioning the different treatment given to Hong Kong.
Raising Doubts and Suspicions
The absence of Messi in the Hong Kong match, the only one he missed during his six pre-season friendly matches on this trip, has amplified doubts and suspicions regarding the integrity of Inter Miami and Messi himself. Mainland fans traveled for up to 12 hours from Xinjiang to Hong Kong to witness Messi’s performance, making the government and fans’ disappointment “entirely understandable”, according to the Global Times. This incident has transcended the realm of sports and has far-reaching implications.
Regina Ip, a senior advisor to the Hong Kong government, expressed her disdain for Messi, Inter Miami, and the alleged “black hand” behind them. She accused them of a deliberate and calculated snub to Hong Kong, further intensifying the controversy surrounding Messi’s absence. The government and fans alike are demanding answers and transparency regarding the decision-making process that led to the disappointment and frustration.
The Aftermath and Future Prospects
Miami will conclude its seven-game preseason tour with a match against Messi’s youth club, Newell’s Old Boys, on February 15. However, the controversy surrounding Messi’s absence in Hong Kong will undoubtedly linger. The team is set to start their MLS regular-season play against Real Salt Lake on February 21 at home, and the Hong Kong incident has cast a shadow over their debut match.
The mysterious case of Lionel Messi’s absence in Hong Kong has left both the government and fans seeking answers. The apparent discrepancy between his availability in Japan and absence in Hong Kong has raised doubts and suspicions, giving rise to accusations of deliberate snubbing. The impact of this incident goes beyond the realm of sports, highlighting questions about fairness, integrity, and the motivations behind such decisions. As the controversy continues, both Inter Miami CF and Lionel Messi will need to address these concerns and provide the public with a satisfactory explanation.
Leave a Reply