2024-02-05T15:45:55+00:00
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/ The Chinese Minister of Sports announced on Monday that the company organizing the match between the Hong Kong All-Stars and the American Inter Miami Football Club signed a contract with the government for Argentine star Lionel Messi to play at least 45 minutes during his team’s tour of Hong Kong in preparation for the new season, but the global star was absent due to injury.
But the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has been struggling with a thigh muscle tear, was left on the bench for the entire friendly, which his team won 4-1 against a Hong Kong All-Stars team on Sunday.
Messi’s absence angered the 38,323 fans who paid more than $125 to see their hero and demanded their money back at the Hong Kong Stadium, while Englishman David Beckham, one of the club’s owners, was booed after the match when he tried to thank the fans.
“One of the key funding conditions with the organisers was that Messi would play at least 45 minutes of the match, taking into account fitness and safety considerations,” Kevin Young, the Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, said at a news conference.
The Hong Kong government issued two consecutive statements on Sunday evening, saying it was deeply disappointed and warning that it would withdraw $2.05 million in funding from the organizer, Tatler Asia, a British fashion and lifestyle magazine.
The government said in a statement before the match started on Sunday, and the organizing company Tatler Asia confirmed that Messi would play in the second half.
The company expressed its regret on Monday in a statement over the Argentine’s absence from the match, indicating that it would abandon government funding.
The company’s CEO, Michel Lamonoir, confirmed that the contract did indeed stipulate that Messi would participate in the match unless he was injured.
“Tatler Asia deeply regrets the disappointing end to what could have been a wonderful opportunity,” he said in the statement.
In turn, Young, who watched the match at the stadium along with other officials, including Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, said that the government had contacted the organizing company more than once after Messi did not appear in the second half.
The negotiations between the two parties were announced to have ended ten minutes before the end of the match, as the government refused to allow Messi to enter the stadium after the end of the match to interact with the fans and receive the cup to resolve the matter.
As Messi prepares to leave Hong Kong on Monday afternoon, Young urged the organizing company to come out and provide a full explanation of what happened, including when they became aware of Messi’s injury and the decision they and his club reached.
The company issued a statement late Sunday expressing deep disappointment at Messi’s non-participation.
She said: Despite some media reports, Tatler was not aware of Messi’s non-participation.
Argentine coach Gerardo Martino said that the team’s medical staff took the decision after an evaluation on Monday morning.
He continued: We wish we could have included Messi even for a while, but the risk was too great.