Disappointed fans of Lionel Messi could be given a partial ticket refund as the Argentine football star remained on the bench during an Inter Miami friendly in Hong Kong, government sources said on Friday, after a lawmaker threatened to take the organiser to court amid mounting public pressure.
The Post learned that the government met organiser Tatler Asia on Friday morning. “It is highly likely that Tatler will announce a partial refund today,” one of the sources said.
Asked about the refund, a Tatler spokesman said more details would be shared once they were ready.
Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.
Hong Kong watchdog wades into Messi affair after receiving 629 complaints
Messi remained on the sidelines of the friendly match between US football team Inter Miami and a Hong Kong XI at the Hong Kong Stadium last Sunday, citing an injury. Fans were left angered and disappointed as many flew into the city to watch him play.
The World Cup winner took part in a match in Japan shortly after his Hong Kong visit, further fuelling calls for a refund.
Lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-piu on Thursday delivered an ultimatum outside the Small Claims Tribunal in West Kowloon and said more than a dozen people were ready to file their claims if Tatler Asia did not explain within a week why Messi stayed on the bench and offer refunds to those who paid more than HK$3,000 (US$384) each for tickets.
‘It was bad luck’: Messi breaks silence after no-show in Hong Kong game
As of Thursday afternoon, the city’s consumer watchdog logged 1,178 complaints linked to ticket sales for the match, including 234 from tourists. Claims have snowballed to about HK$8.1 million.
Disappointment over the game, supported by the government, has prompted a review of authorities’ system that offers organisers of large-scale sports events extra funding and logistics support.
Sports minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung also said the government had never seen the contract details between the organiser and Inter Miami, despite the understanding that Messi would play for 45 minutes unless he was injured.
Additional reporting by Joshua Ball
For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2024.
