Hong Kong watchdog asked to tidy up Messi affair as it fields 629 complaints seeking HK$4.15 million in refunds over footballer’s failure to play
- Consumer Council says highest amount linked to a single complaint stands at about HK$24,000 after Argentine footballer’s absence from match on Sunday
- Most complaints from city residents, watchdog chief executive says, as customers wait for match organiser Tatler Asia to respond to mediation requests
The watchdog said it had handled 629 complaints by Wednesday morning linked to ticket sales from Sunday’s friendly between Inter Miami and a Hong Kong XI, with the claims involving about HK$4.15 million (US$530,648) in total.
The highest amount linked to a single complaint stood at HK$24,224 and the funds involved averaged HK$6,599 a case.
Most of the 527 reports came from city residents.
“Locals also tended to spend more than tourists on average, probably because the entire family went together,” Gilly Wong Fung-han, the council’s chief executive, told a radio programme on Wednesday.
“By looking at the amount for each case … you can really tell consumers were quite willing to spend for this football match.”
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Wong added the council was still waiting for match organiser, luxury lifestyle brand Tatler Asia, to respond to mediation requests from customers.
She added the organisation had contacted Tatler Asia on Tuesday.
The watchdog said it was also contacting complainants to get more details on their cases and reminded people who had made reports to provide copies of their ticket receipts.
Messi appeared prominently in Tatler Asia’s advertising for the high-profile match and left many fans disappointed after he sat out of the game and had little contact with spectators.
Inter Miami said the Argentine superstar was injured in the run-up to the game, but his absence prompted calls for refunds and also attracted the anger of the Hong Kong government.
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Tatler Asia later said it would not accept HK$16 million in government funds earlier offered to support the event.
Messi on Tuesday broke his silence over the incident at a press conference in Tokyo, the next leg of his team’s tour.
He said it was “a shame” that a thigh muscle injury had prevented him from playing in Hong Kong and he hoped to return “whenever I can”.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who was among the close to 40,000 spectators at Sunday’s match at Hong Kong Stadium, said the controversy was undesirable and extremely disappointing for fans who hoped to see Messi take to the pitch.
Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, the vice-president of the Hong Kong Olympic Committee and a lawmaker, appealed to Tatler Asia to respect fans after he learned the platform had promoted photo opportunities with the footballer at HK$150,000 a picture.
The offer, combined with Messi’s extensive use in marketing for the match, gave the public the impression that the organiser was attempting to maximise its income.
The Post has contacted Tatler Asia for comment.
