- Roughly 40,000 football fans expressed intense frustration during an Inter Miami CF friendly against a Hong Kong team on February 4, 2024, after superstar Lionel Messi remained on the bench for the entire match.
- Tickets for the event were highly priced, ranging from HKD 880 to HKD 4,880, leading to widespread demands for refunds and loud booing directed at team co-owner David Beckham and local officials.
Government Sponsorship and Disputes
- The Hong Kong government provided HKD 16 million to event organizer Tatler Asia, aiming to rebrand the city as a hub for mega-events.
- Kevin Yeung, the Secretary for Culture, Sports, and Tourism, stated that a key condition of the funding agreement was for Messi to play at least 45 minutes, barring fitness or safety issues.
- Officials have expressed extreme disappointment and are considering withholding the promised funding following the no-show.
Broader Implications
- Critics and lawmakers have questioned the government's marketing strategy, noting that the heavy reliance on a single celebrity to boost Hong Kong's international image backfired.
- Commentators suggested the incident exposes the risks of attaching political significance to purely commercial ventures.
- The incident has sparked political spoofs and online discourse, with some characterizing the no-show as an act of "soft resistance" against government-backed branding efforts, reflecting current tensions in the city.