Hong Kong group withdraws from sponsorship over Lionel Messi fiasco

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong-based organisers of a much-hyped football match intended to showcase Lionel Messi said they have withdrawn from a multi-million dollar government grant, after the star and other major players failed to participate. 

Tatler XFEST Hong Kong will pull out of the grant programme and “deeply regrets the disappointing ending to what was an exciting occasion,” Tatler Asia CEO Michel Lamuniere said on Feb 5.

The organisers were promised a HK$15 million (S$2.6 million) matching grant and a HK$1 million venue grant, Hong Kong officials said in a previous statement. 

Inter Miami initially told Tatler that Messi and Uruguayan footballer Luis Suarez were listed as “substitutes and therefore fit to play” just before the match against a Hong Kong select XI on Feb 4, Lamuniere said.

“Tatler Asia had every expectation that both would play,” he said, adding that at half-time, the club said Messi would not be able to take the pitch due to injury. The company spent the second half urging Miami to tell Messi to address fans, “to no avail”, Lamuniere added.

Messi’s on-pitch absence prompted boos and calls for a refund.

Government officials told the press earlier on Feb 5 that it was “deeply disappointed” and gathering information over the match.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung said the city was withholding the grant money until it spoke to the organisers. 

He added that the funding agreement was for Messi to “participate in the match for at least 45 minutes subject to fitness and safety considerations”. Before kick-off, the government was reassured by the organiser that Messi would play in the second half, he added.

At half-time, officials repeated their request for Messi to play but were later informed he could not participate due to an injury, Yeung said. “We immediately requested them to explore other remedies, such as Messi appearing on the field to interact with his fans and receiving the trophy,” he added.

“Unfortunately, as you all see, it didn’t work out.”

The much-anticipated event charged as much as HK$4,880 for the most expensive seats. Tickets sold out within an hour in December.

A training session on Feb 3 almost packed the stadium to capacity, with at least 10 fans trying to invade the pitch to get close to Messi.

Fuming fans drowned out David Beckham, a co-owner of Miami, after he stepped onto the field at the end of the game, which the US team won 4-1, to thank fans for their “incredible support”.

An angry spectator kicked a life-size cut-out of Messi at the Hong Kong Stadium.

Miami coach Gerardo Martino said playing Messi (adductor muscle) and Suarez (swollen knee) could have posed a risk of aggravating their injuries.
BLOOMBERG, AFP, REUTERS