Madness in Asia. Lionel Messi didn’t come on due to injury, fans in the stands didn’t hold back, they want a refund. Even the government is angry

Inter Miami is preparing for the new MLS season and is rather flying around the world. Last time the team from Florida was in Hong Kong, where football madness reigned. Lionel Messi was the main hero of the fans, they wanted to see him, but he didn’t come on due to injury. This has raised mild hell, even the government is angry.

The increasingly popular American team went on a pre-season tour before the start of the new MLS season. But so far, that hasn’t gone so well. Among other things, injuries are plaguing the team’s biggest aces.

Five games, three losses, one win, one draw. That’s Inter Miami’s record so far. A draw against the national team of El Salvador, followed by defeats to Dallas and Saudi Arabian teams Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, with the latter in particular being the match Florida would rather forget.

Moreover, Lionel Messi, the main face of Inter, watched most of the game with Al-Nassr only from the bench. Cristiano Ronaldo, for a change, did not come on at all. However, the Argentine came into the game with an injury with the game already decided.

When the Miami team then headed to Hong Kong, a football frenzy was unleashed. Fans were excited to see the best footballer in history in person. But they were in for a huge disappointment. Not only Lionel Messi but also Luis Suárez, Inter’s second biggest star, did not make it into the game. Both due to injury.

Already during the match, the dissatisfaction was evident. The fans booed, booed. They called for refunds. So there’s a lot of discussion about whether they’re entitled to it at all. Injuries are simply beyond their control. And playing with an injury would be a pointless gamble, especially with the season about to start.

That Lionel Messi didn’t play? Even the government is angry

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino apologized to the fans after the game, realizing how disappointing it must have been for them. But the situation went a little further. The Hong Kong government also showed its displeasure with the absence of the best footballer in history.

“Many Hong Kong fans were looking forward to the match, they were excited. Many tourists came to the city just for the match. The government, like the fans, is extremely disappointed that Lionel Messi was unable to play and could not explain his absence to the fans in person,” CNBC quoted the government as saying.

According to the statement, neither the organizer nor Inter Miami handled the situation. Moreover, both Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez featured in promotional material prepared for the matches. This was all the more disappointing for the fans. However, the event organizer himself reportedly had no information that the star duo would not be playing.

The Hong Kong government said that the organiser was responsible for the situation, adding that it would probably take a hit on the money earned as there was a lot of investment in the event.

Source: The Guardian, CNBC