FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has released a video apology for missing a friendly match while injured, following an incident during Inter’s pre-season Miami.
Inter Miami were scheduled to play a friendly against a Hong Kong team on February 4, and tickets were sold at high prices due to Messi’s presence. However, fans reacted angrily when Messi was unable to play due to injury, booing him every time his image appeared in the stadium.
The controversy grew so big that the Hong Kong government got involved. The brand that organized the match in Hong Kong initially had it funded by a government grant of €2 million, which was approved. However, following the backlash, lifestyle and media brand Tatler Asia withdrew its grant application and refunded half the price of the tickets, which exceeded 500 euros for the most expensive.
Messi hated in China!
“The people of Hong Kong hate Messi, Inter Miami and the black hand behind them, for their deliberate and calculated contempt for Hong Kong. He should never be allowed to return to Hong Kong”tweeted Regina Ip, president of the Hong Kong Executive Council.
Messi has since released an apology video, denying false reports that he did not play for political reasons or anything other than injury, explaining that he suffered from adductor inflammation and was therefore unable to play.
According to Esport3, this did little to appease fans, and the post received more than 2 million interactions on Chinese social media site Weibo. Fans were furious that Messi did not issue an explicit apology and only explained his injury as the reason for not playing.
