Lionel Messi's recent participation in a friendly football match for Inter Miami against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, which ended in a 4-3 defeat on penalties for his team, has sparked significant controversy, particularly in China and Hong Kong. Messi, who had previously missed a match in Hong Kong due to an adductor muscle injury, played in Japan just days later, leading to accusations of insincerity and a calculated snub towards Hong Kong. He issued an apology for the Hong Kong no-show after facing backlash. Chinese netizens and state media condemned his actions, and the Chinese Football Association responded by suspending cooperation with the Argentine Football Association and removing all Messi-related content from their official website. Hong Kong lawmaker Kenneth Fok called Messi's absence from the friendly a “deliberate and calculated snub.” Amidst the backlash, the organizer of the Hong Kong event, Tatler Asia, announced a 50% refund to ticket holders, which turned their $1.6m profit into a $5.5m loss.
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
The “black hand” behind Messi and Inter-Miami? https://t.co/Wm7wdEFWWx
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
Lionel Messi's 'contract should be terminated' for reaction during penalty shootout loss https://t.co/Udl30SRbjX
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
Inter Miami's poor pre-season tour goes from bad to worse https://t.co/TlZotS5orA
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
Football: Messi returns from injury as Miami lose friendly to Kobe https://t.co/lz9NupGjwM
“Messi Plays and Has Chances but Vissel Kobe Beats Inter Miami 4-3 on Penalties in a Friendly “ https://t.co/Z0afom4A1o
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
3rd match of the preseason ends in a 0-1 loss. https://t.co/P4uIS38o9G
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
🚨⚽️ 🎙️ 🎧 🐐 NEW EPISODE: Inside Inter Miami podcast. We break down the Messi mess in Hong Kong, Messi’s press conference in Tokyo, and the end of the world tour. Tune in here on Apple 🍎 @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports #Messi https://t.co/Z96WlVwzAd
🚨⚽️ 🎙️ 🎧 🐐 NEW EPISODE: Inside Inter Miami podcast. We break down the Messi mess in Hong Kong, Messi’s press conference in Tokyo, and the end of the world tour. Tune in here on Apple 🍎 @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports #Messi https://t.co/Z96WlVwzAd
🍎⚽️🎙️🎧🐐 NEW EPISODE: Inside Inter Miami podcast Messi’s comments after Hong Kong debacle, status as global tour ends. We break it all down. Tune in on Apple 🍎https://t.co/84kZnSkWYf via @YouTube @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports @InterMiamiCF #InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 #MLS
🚨⚽️🎙️🎧🐐NEW EPISODE: Inside Inter Miami podcast Messi’s words after Hong Kong debacle, status as global tour ends. We break it all down. Watch here... https://t.co/K9fsKtKY5G via @YouTube @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports @InterMiamiCF #InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 #MLS
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
Fans demand Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami contract ‘terminated ASAP’ after spotting what he did during loss to Vissel Kobe https://t.co/LdPVYwBW2Y https://t.co/LdPVYwBW2Y
Inter Miami fall to another defeat in Asia in poor pre-season tour https://t.co/TlZotS5orA
Messi plays part of match, but Vissel Kobe beats Inter Miami 4-3 on penalties in a friendly https://t.co/qh536yTxll
Are we moving toward a red Interpol notice on Lionel Messi for violating Hong Kong’s national security law, which remember forbids “provoking hatred” of the government? 🍿 https://t.co/RFQXatuRh4
Frightening stuff. The “black hand” that controlled the Hong Kong protesters is now pulling the strings of Messi and global soccer. 🤡 https://t.co/kCoWsReGFh
Messi plays in Inter Miami match in Tokyo on heels of Hong Kong no-show https://t.co/JJBoGf4djw https://t.co/oGFVbqqr7X
Hong Kong people hate Messi, Inter-Miami, and the black hand behind them, for the deliberate and calculated snub to Hong Kong. https://t.co/jMALNyGASt
This could seem a bit silly, Chinese fans blaming Messi for sitting out a game in HK (adductor muscle injury) and then playing absolutely fine in Japan days later. But when Chinese fans get furious at brands, that sometimes has financial consequences https://t.co/kZ3LyHM24J https://t.co/SLFhpJItg9
Messi played in Japan, and his skills are superb as always. He made an explanation on China’s Weibo today, with no apology at all. Many Chinese netizens thought it insincere. So his injury healed as soon as he arrived in Japan? That makes no sense in any way. https://t.co/G5sHlCoACt
Lionel Messi apologises for Hong Kong no-show after Chinese backlash https://t.co/vLWpvnHgFI
Lionel Messi plays in Tokyo, ending Inter Miami's worldwide tour on high note https://t.co/ZQxNGozomZ
Lionel Messi and co slip to another defeat in worrying pre-season tour https://t.co/TlZotS4QC2
Miserable in Hong Kong, happy in Japan -- Leo Messi is a true Hong Konger (meme floating around whatsapp) https://t.co/CosA8P771u
MESSI NUTMEG 🥜 LIONEL MESSI getting back into swing of things for Inter Miami in Japan, dishing out nutmegs like they’re nothing. Crowd at Vissel Kobe friendly in audible awe of the GOAT. 🐐 https://t.co/XH19kZ5tlo