As the debate over Lionel Messi’s failure to appear in an exhibit match in Hong Kong continues to foment, fans who took a trip throughout the border from the Chinese mainland to see the soccer super star have actually been including their voices to the chorus of displeasure.
The event and resulting fallout have actually been viral on Chinese social networks considering that the match on Sunday, with several hashtags striking the top of microblogging platform Weibo’s trending list.
“It’s easy to understand that he did not play in the friendly match as a result of injury. What everybody is upset about is Messi’s mindset, putting on a bad face, not stating bye-bye,” a soccer influencer with over 1 million fans composed on Weibo on Tuesday.
Messi is extremely popular in China, having actually checked out the nation 7 times before his newest check out to Hong Kong. His previous check out in June saw a young fan run onto the field to welcome him at the Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium, which caused the fan ending up being a social networks star in addition to being apprehended by the authorities.
Elaine Wu, who did not supply her Chinese name for personal privacy factors, informed Sixth Tone that she and her buddies were left dissatisfied after investing countless yuan to see the previous FC Barcelona talisman in-person for the very first time.
The 3 good friends had actually taken a three-hour flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong on Friday, paying 2,000 yuan ($279) each for the flight tickets and 4,000 yuan each for the match.
As the match started, their enjoyment slowly developed into anger as Messi remained on the alternatives’ bench for the whole match, apparently due to an injury.
“We believed he would a minimum of make a look near completion of the match, however after numerous gamer modifications … we understood he was not going to play,” Wu informed Sixth Tone.
The 3 good friends participated in with the booing and hissing as fans in the sold-out Hong Kong Stadium slowly pertained to the exact same awareness, with a few of the anger directed at English soccer legend David Beckham, co-owner of Messi’s group Inter Miami, who was likewise in participation.
Yang Haoran, a 24-year-old trainee from the southern city of Guangzhou studying at the City University of Hong Kong, stated he took part the booing as fans around him started leaving before the match ended: “The boos from the crowd were something I’ll most likely never ever hear once again in my life.”
A video he made recording his experience on the day, shared on his social networks, reveals upset regional fans yelling for refunds and comparing Messi unfavorably with competing soccer super star Cristiano Ronaldo.
In late January, the Portuguese gamer likewise stopped working to play in set up matches with regional groups throughout his see to the Chinese mainland due to injury, leading to fan reaction.
While Ronaldo’s matches were canceled ahead of time with refunds provided to fans, Messi’s match in Hong Kong was not canceled and there were no statements of an injury before the match.
Match organizer Tatler Asia stated in a declaration Monday that it had actually anticipated Messi to play in the match as he was noted as an alternative. It did not state whether fans will be reimbursed.
“I hope there will be a refund,” stated Wu. “Without Messi, the match wasn’t worth seeing.”
For Wu and her good friends, the experience has actually harmed Messi’s standing in their eyes as they formerly appreciated him not just for his soccer skill however likewise his credibility as a sincere married man.
“It’s something to not have actually played, it’s another thing to not offer a description or engage with the fans, which felt rude,” she stated.
At an interview on Tuesday in Tokyo, where Inter Miami is continuing its pre-season trip, Messi stated it was a “pity” that he might not play in Hong Kong. The Argentina soccer captain included that he is all set to go back to the soccer field in the Japanese capital.
Editor: Vincent Chow.
(Header image: Lionel Messi throughout the friendly soccer match in Hong Kong, Feb. 4, 2024. Hou Yu/CNS/VCG)