Lionel Messi's absence from a friendly match in Hong Kong has sparked significant controversy and backlash in China and Hong Kong, with accusations of foreign influences behind his non-participation. Hong Kong politician Regina Ip, labeled as a CCP stooge, has been accused of stirring up nationalism over the incident. Messi's team, Inter Miami, was also accused of a deliberate and calculated snub. The situation escalated when Messi played in Japan shortly after not playing in Hong Kong, leading to accusations of a political and commercial snub towards Hong Kong. In response, the Chinese Football Association reportedly suspended cooperation with the Argentine Football Association and removed all Messi-related content from their official website. The organizer of the event in Hong Kong, Tatler Asia, faced a significant financial loss after issuing a 50% refund to attendees, turning a projected $1.6 million profit into a $5.5 million loss. Furthermore, the backlash has led to the cancellation of a friendly match between Argentina and Nigeria in Hangzhou, and there is speculation that Argentina's March friendlies in China could be moved.
From @TheAthleticFC: Argentina’s March soccer games in China versus Nigeria and Ivory Coast could be moved amid the ongoing dispute around Lionel Messi’s controversial no-show in Hong Kong. https://t.co/4HUA4yxE6J
Anger over Messi’s absence in Hong Kong game spreads: Argentina friendly in mainland China canceled https://t.co/ReKF2ygqsG
wonder how much of the anger over messi in hong kong was at least partially, *initially*, emanating from bookies and their clients.
The organizer of Inter Miami’s soccer game in Hong Kong where fans booed Lionel Messi for not taking part said it will issue a 50% refund to ticket holders which will cost it $7.2 million https://t.co/7ColZQTfzW
🚨⚽️BREAKING NEWS: Hong Kong promoter to issue 50 percent refunds amid fan backlash to Messi not playing. Inter Miami issues further explanation, apology. https://t.co/ISVqf5fUxt @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports @InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 #InterMiamiCF #MLS #HongKong
Hong Kong promoter to issue partial refunds amid fan backlash to Messi not playing https://t.co/nGtONZe2iw
🚨⚽️BREAKING NEWS: Hong Kong promoter to issue partial refunds amid fan backlash to Messi not playing, Inter Miami issues further explanation, apology. https://t.co/ISVqf5fUxt @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports @InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 #InterMiamiCF #MLS #HongKong
Chinese sports authorities CANCEL Argentina vs Nigeria friendly in Hangzhou amid backlash over Lionel Messi's failure to play for Inter Miami in Hong Kong... after World Cup winner was accused of a 'lack of respect' https://t.co/Ej59t5YutX https://t.co/mXDXhiq0i0
NEWS: Fallout from Lionel Messi's perceived Hong Kong "snub" could force Argentina to move their March friendlies from China https://t.co/6xdDTBkHqw
NEWS: Argentina’s March friendlies in China versus Nigeria and Ivory Coast could be moved amid the ongoing row around Lionel Messi’s controversial no-show in Hong Kong. More from @FelipeCar ⤵️ https://t.co/KjACnq3vNE
Fuming footie fans offered 50 per cent refund after paying up to £500 to watch Lionel Messi.. but star didn't even play https://t.co/k0SRHeO6TJ https://t.co/k0SRHeO6TJ
🇨🇳 Hangzhou Bureau of Sports (杭州市体育局) has cancelled the friendly international between Argentina and Nigeria in Hangzhou in March. https://t.co/2TvGG2C4dS https://t.co/NeWNjJA5R8 https://t.co/uUrkRXDuwQ https://t.co/HNZN4LRKzW
Lionel Messi: fans refunded in Hong Kong after anger over Tokyo appearance https://t.co/OkdmFsd7us
Angry football fans in Hong Kong have been offered a 50% refund on match tickets after Lionel Messi failed to take to the field in a game scheduled to showcase his talents. Read more 🔗 https://t.co/PY3XxCSJg2
This is intriguing and supports the idea that the Messi fiasco may have had something to do with image rights and/or face https://t.co/VJBIZbA8L1
Amid a public uproar in China over Argentine football great Lionel Messi’s failure to play in a recent Hong Kong match, a major Chinese city has scrubbed a game scheduled for his national team. https://t.co/ug6Q25ttRA
❖ CHINA CANCELS ARGENTINA FRIENDLY FOOTBALL MATCH IN HANGZHOU
The Messi in Hong Kong debacle happened because the organiser did not reach out to Messi’s own team in advance, and pressure through Inter Miami on Messi backfired, according to Chinese football commentator Wang Tao who’s close to Messi https://t.co/muVe68Nzrr
Refunds for fans who missed seeing LIONEL MESSI as he sat out Inter Miami's exhibition game in Hong Kong have been announced. Organizer Tatler Asia is giving ticket-holders a 50% rebate. 🦩 It says that will cost $7.2M & result in a net loss. MLS clubs nervously watch on. 😬 https://t.co/pit6IOaqD2
"the escalation of the Leo Messi incident will caution more international superstars about going to China for three reasons. Number one, when you go to China for a commercial event it will be used politically to endorse the regime... https://t.co/I0xsqCivCp
Did Messi send a signed photo to Liu Xiaobo before the Nobel Peace Prize winner died of cancer in a Chinese prison? Intriguing story from 2017 Hong Kong activist says he was 'stapled' over Lionel Messi photo https://t.co/OGJSRnQKZZ
The organizer of a much-hyped soccer match that intended to showcase Lionel Messi in Hong Kong says it would offer a partial refund after backlash from angry fans and the government over the absence of the World Cup winner. https://t.co/lWeY2niMwR
Really interesting take. Who politicized Messi's visit? The Hong Kong government, which used the game to advance its political agenda. Was Messi ever asked whether he wanted to do PR for the CCP? Has CCP politics scared away the football star? https://t.co/r9RaWMxC6B
Lionel Messi fans offered partial refund after match no-show Read more 🔗 https://t.co/PY3XxCSJg2
The backlash to ‘Messi’s mess’ in Hong Kong—and how it could backfire on the city https://t.co/dBxFpGdAJs
Tatler Asia says it will partially refund Hong Kong tickets after Lionel Messi backlash https://t.co/n53itRTaRL
If only they'd properly scrutinised Messi's visa application, we could have avoided all this trouble! Hong Kong introduces national security risk test for all visa applicants https://t.co/pyASYy3kJF
💰 Safe haven ⚽️ Lionel Messi draws ire 🐖 Pork gloom @rchoongwilkins has some of the key stories you may have missed in China this week https://t.co/Lvchv7HmXn https://t.co/Sz5G9IUAbs
Messi's no-show turned Hong Kong event organizer Tatler Asia's $1.6m profit into a $5.5m loss after issuing 50% refund to ticket holders https://t.co/fBTKVkTuwA
💰 Safe haven ️⚽️ Lionel Messi draws ire 🐖 Pork gloom @rchoongwilkins has some of the key stories you may have missed in China this week https://t.co/3TpEHA4QVV https://t.co/boscOB8g6a
The organizer of Inter Miami’s game in Hong Kong where fans booed Lionel Messi for not taking part says it will issue a 50% refund to those who attended the event https://t.co/KVYBsQcsRr
Lionel Messi's failure to play in a match in Hong Kong has triggered a surge of online outrage in the city and across China https://t.co/oY7fDEN3v9 https://t.co/3lozm51nHW
These are the thinnest-skinned people in the world: “Messi should never be allowed to return to Hong Kong.” Messi is trending on Weibo and fans have posted videos of themselves destroying his jersey. Chinese state media, Hong Kong (read: CCP hand-picked) politicians and fans… https://t.co/LhLXuwiEVO
Lionel Messi is accused of 'political motives' and trying to 'embarrass' Hong Kong with a 'calculated snub' https://t.co/uR7yXyQfpc https://t.co/HKS4ygXfJm
Lionel Messi comes under fire for reaction during Inter Miami penalty shootout loss https://t.co/Udl30SRbjX
Hong Kong lawmaker Kenneth Fok called Lionel Messi's absence from Inter Miami's friendly Sunday a “deliberate and calculated snub.” Fok says Messi’s appearance in Tokyo “sprinkled salt” on the wounds of Hong Kong fans. https://t.co/OLPUijO1bL
Tatler CEO in Hong Kong should be worried. He helped create a massive public opinion incident with this Messi mess. If he were in the mainland he would likely already be detained. He needs to return all the money he collected for this visit ASAP
PRC online mobs now pissing all over Messi and the Argentine team. Messi and the team are national heroes in Argentina, and president Milei of Argentina is not a fan of the PRC. At this point the Argentine side should just announce it is cancelling its March visit to the PRC.…
Chinese FA ‘sever ties with Argentine FA and delete all Lionel Messi news from website’ after Hong Kong row https://t.co/cNmfSRGvzc https://t.co/cNmfSRGvzc
According to the guardian, this Messi ‘snub’ (haha) is trending big on Weibo. And Chinese FA has suspended cooperation with Argentine FA and removed Messi from all official websites. Abs extraordinary. Can you imagine these ppl on a Saturday afternoon at Anfield or Chelsea? https://t.co/asE05khCr3
The Chinese Football Association has suspended cooperation with its Argentine counterpart and deleted all news about Lionel Messi from its web site https://t.co/lD1ZiQJDzx
Messi's Inter Miami accused of 'deliberate and calculated snub' against Hong Kong Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/b7iKddVT9x
Yes of course. The black hand of foreign forces incited Messi to undermine the national security of Hong Kong https://t.co/q0hzyAjqxb
Lionel Messi: Chinese fury as superstar plays in Japan after missing Hong Kong match https://t.co/nj3ZOHMtXc
Lionel Messi: outcry in China and Hong Kong after star returns from injury in time for Japan match https://t.co/GxwmUKuKNr
🇨🇳 Chinese Football Association has reportedly suspended relevant cooperation with the Argentine Football Association, including the Argentine national team. The Chinese FA has also removed all Messi related content from their official website. https://t.co/FwAEGXjira https://t.co/6fYKA6IhMa
Should go without saying but: She does not and cannot speak for Hong Kong people. And the “black hand” behind Messi is about as real as the government’s fevered imaginings about the 2019 unrest. The authorities manufacture their own disasters with no outside help https://t.co/55zHIn5Qtp
The backlash against Messi's non-performance in Hong Kong has been a revealing moment for football as entertainment — and its vulnerability to the globalisation created by social media, writes @urbandirt https://t.co/864w4LRMCU https://t.co/gD8JvnkRw5
Chinese state media, Hong Kong politicians and fans swiftly condemned Argentine player Lionel Messi's participation in a Japan match on Wednesday after staying on the bench just days earlier in a highly anticipated match in Hong Kong https://t.co/RmoQqp3Zol
China says Messi's absence in Hong Kong match beyond 'realm of sports' as fury builds https://t.co/JxbcCP9Rk2 https://t.co/hyegxTObJZ
China says Messi's absence in Hong Kong match beyond 'realm of sports' as fury builds @reuterschina https://t.co/ofS3wb8Wxf
long INDIA + JAPAN 1 Capital is fleeing China for INDIA 2 Messi sat out in Hong Kong game but played in JAPAN https://t.co/QfPn3LGOux
Interesting coincidence that while Chinese stock market is doing so poorly there's a half-baked propaganda crisis with Messi stirring up a distraction
https://t.co/tfKqT97njy Hong Kong government now asking why Messi could play in Japan and not HK. Immediately turns largely meaningless game into political and commercial joust between Asian rivals Japan and China. Look for Inter Miami to get to China soon and chase cash.
"the black hand behind" Messi not playing in a friendly exhibition football match. It is absolutely mental how insecure and fragile Hong Kong authorities are. https://t.co/S728N3y5QA
Hong Kong’s Messi backlash says more about digital fandom than football https://t.co/f2IeK35D9j | opinion
Hong Kong’s Messi backlash says more about digital fandom than football https://t.co/OfHhzwDFZF
Just eight months ago, Messi had no problem whatsoever to play a full 90 minutes. put on a fantastic show in Beijing as part of the celebration for a certain person's birthday. Anyone wants to guess what happened since and he is so pissed off? https://t.co/gunNG6jqQL
Messi plays in Japan but not in Hong Kong… CCP stooge Regina Ip goes “wolf warrior” but she doesn’t represent Hong Kong people at all… Stirring up nationalism by claiming the presence of foreign “black hand” or influences comes straight from the CCP playbook. The Messi “snub”… https://t.co/EwELlcXyOA
CCP stooge Regina Ip doesn’t represent Hong Kong people at all… Stirring up nationalism by claiming the presence of foreign “black hand” or influences comes straight from the CCP playbook. The Messi “snub” is getting messy… https://t.co/Jg7ZbaRYDB