The absence of Lionel Messi during the Inter Miami friendly match in Hong Kong continues to cause discussion in China, where local authorities are demanding explanations.
At the time, there were whistles and boos. And a few days after this friendly match between the Hong Kong All Stars and Inter Miami, the absence of Lionel Messi continues to be talked about.
It was the Hong Kong Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau which published a press release to discuss the situation, recalling that “ three days later, Messi was able to play actively and freely in Japan »during another friendly match.
The Chinese press also expressed its questions. “The match in Hong Kong was the only one of six matches on Inter Miami’s preparation tour where Messi did not play, observes the Global Times. This situation has amplified doubts regarding the integrity of Inter Miami and Messi himself. »
Messi has physical problems
It is thus the feeling of anti-Chinese persecution which dominates there, especially since the Inter Miami match attracted 40,000 spectators to Hong Kong, for an average ticket well over 500 euros. Curiously, only 28,614 tickets were sold for the match in Tokyo against Vissel Kobe, where the stands were far from full.
In this story, it must be remembered that Messi is hampered by pain in his thigh during this preparation, which forces his coach Tata Martino to take it easy on him in view of the MLS season, with also the Copa America 2024 in a corner of the head. Upon arriving in Japan, Messi said he was “disappointed” not to have been able to play in front of the Hong Kong crowd, and that he hoped another friendly match would be organized there in the years to come.
