https://www.scmp.com/rss/517595/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Cannix Yau Cannix Yau This year saw a wide range of newsmakers catching the public eye in Hong Kong, including former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, Argentinian football superstar Lionel Messi, a Dubai prince who backtracked on an investment deal and the latest additions to the city’s giant panda family. The Post looks back at the newsmakers who made the headlines in 2024. 1. Lionel Messi Tens of thousands of Messi fans who paid premium prices or even spent exorbitant sums on scalped tickets were outraged after the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3292828/who-made-hong-kongs-headlines-2024-post-takes-look?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3292828/who-made-hong-kongs-headlines-2024-post-takes-look?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Dec 2024 04:30:17 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong held more than 110 mega-events in the first half of 2024 as part of government efforts to bolster the local economy, with some activities struggling to get off the ground and a few even attracting controversy. From football fiascos, drone show failures to multimillion-dollar balloons, the Post looks back on some of Hong Kong’s mega-event misses over the past year. 1. Taylor cannot come to the phone right now As global superstar Taylor Swift made her way around the world for her Eras... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3292571/taylor-swift-messi-looking-back-hong-kongs-2024-mega-event-flops?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3292571/taylor-swift-messi-looking-back-hong-kongs-2024-mega-event-flops?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Dec 2024 05:33:35 +0000 Hong Kong’s Consumer Council has said anyone who wants a refund over football superstar Lionel Messi’s no-show at a city friendly match last month can arrange to get their money back without dropping their complaints to the watchdog. But Gilly Wong Fung-han, the organisation’s chief executive, said on Tuesday that people who paid for their tickets using electronic payment systems might need to drop any complaints filed with their banks or credit card issuers as their transactions would be on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3255893/messi-fans-can-seek-refunds-without-dropping-complaints-hong-kong-consumer-watchdog?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3255893/messi-fans-can-seek-refunds-without-dropping-complaints-hong-kong-consumer-watchdog?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Mar 2024 04:42:41 +0000 Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan says condensing Far East tours could help visiting football teams avoid repeating the Lionel Messi affair in Hong Kong. European clubs have long jetted to the region in preseason, balancing preparation for competitions back home with exploring new markets and earning appearance money. Inter Miami, aiming to establish a global following, sought to cash in on Messi-mania with visits to El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan as they got ready for their... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3253938/messi-hong-kong-how-can-miami-style-tours-satisfy-asia-fans-barcelonas-gundogan-has-solution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3253938/messi-hong-kong-how-can-miami-style-tours-satisfy-asia-fans-barcelonas-gundogan-has-solution?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Mar 2024 08:53:26 +0000 The change of mood around Inter Miami’s visit to Hong Kong was nothing if not swift. Greeted as heroes when Lionel Messi and his teammates landed on the first Friday of February after weeks of hype, the US football club by the Monday departed as villains. A switch had been flicked when the Argentinian, his sport’s greatest player, watched from the sidelines rather than taking part in a match in the city that had sold out on the promise of him playing, unless ill or injured. His aloofness... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3253845/after-chinas-messi-divorce-football-counts-cost-own-goal-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3253845/after-chinas-messi-divorce-football-counts-cost-own-goal-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:02:53 +0000 Argentina are to play two friendly matches in the United States next month after a pair of fixtures in China were axed following Lionel Messi’s ill-starred visit to Hong Kong. The breadth and scale of the backlash against the Argentinian, following his non-participation when Inter Miami faced a local select this month, was underlined when Chinese officials called off matches his national team were scheduled to play in Hangzhou and Beijing between March 18 and 26. A well-placed source told the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3252912/messi-set-stateside-argentina-friendlies-world-champions-fill-gap-left-chinese-call-offs-after-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3252912/messi-set-stateside-argentina-friendlies-world-champions-fill-gap-left-chinese-call-offs-after-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Feb 2024 01:38:44 +0000 One of Hong Kong’s leading footballers says a gentleman’s agreement could have coaxed Lionel Messi on to the pitch during Inter Miami’s match in the city and averted the fury over the Argentinian’s no-show. Kitchee midfielder Charlie Scott played the second half for the local league XI against Inter at a packed Hong Kong Stadium, and insisted his team would have agreed to treat Messi with kid gloves if the 36-year-old had appeared for a late cameo to satisfy fans. Scott added that assembling a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3252723/lionel-messi-shambles-could-have-been-avoided-hong-kongs-former-manchester-united-player-charlie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3252723/lionel-messi-shambles-could-have-been-avoided-hong-kongs-former-manchester-united-player-charlie?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Feb 2024 10:57:49 +0000 Li Ngai-hoi has revealed he turned down a return to mainland Chinese football because he felt isolated during his previous stint and preferred to stay in Hong Kong to enhance his international prospects. News of the centre-back’s transfer to Hong Kong Premier League leaders Lee Man last month was greeted with widespread surprise, given mainland suitors were circling. But Li said he was unhappy during 2½ years with Nantong Zhiyun, where he won promotion to the Chinese Super League in 2022, before... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3252615/why-international-defender-chose-hong-kong-club-over-mainland-china-move?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3252615/why-international-defender-chose-hong-kong-club-over-mainland-china-move?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Feb 2024 23:45:12 +0000 A video posted on Chinese social media by Lionel Messi to explain his infamous Hong Kong no-show has prompted speculation over whether he could yet play in China for Argentina next month as originally scheduled. With anger at boiling point in the days after Messi watched from the bench as Inter Miami beat a local select at Hong Kong Stadium this month, a pair of Argentina friendly matches due to take place in mainland China in March were cancelled by the host nation. There has been speculation... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3252581/could-lionel-messi-video-open-door-return-china-social-media-hostility-remains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3252581/could-lionel-messi-video-open-door-return-china-social-media-hostility-remains?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Feb 2024 09:57:22 +0000 Argentinian football star Lionel Messi has sought to tamp down the national outrage over his decision to sit out a match in Hong Kong, saying speculation that politics was involved was totally unfounded and that he hoped to meet his Chinese fans in person again. In a two-minute video released on the mainland Chinese social media platform Weibo at 9pm on Monday, Messi said he wanted to explain why he decided against joining his Inter Miami teammates on the pitch for the friendly against a local... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3252488/football-legend-lionel-messi-takes-aim-false-stories-about-hong-kong-no-show-dismisses-rumours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3252488/football-legend-lionel-messi-takes-aim-false-stories-about-hong-kong-no-show-dismisses-rumours?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Feb 2024 16:24:27 +0000 The final whistle confirming the non-appearance of Lionel Messi in his team’s highly-anticipated match in Hong Kong has long since blown. But extra time will be needed to learn lessons from this mega non-event. Cheers turned to boos when it dawned on the almost 40,000 fans attending that their Argentinian idol would not even be making a cameo appearance. An extraordinary backlash has followed. Organiser Tatler Asia has withdrawn a HK$16 million claim for government funding, offered fans a 50 per... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3252292/hong-kong-and-inter-miami-were-playing-very-different-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3252292/hong-kong-and-inter-miami-were-playing-very-different-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Feb 2024 15:15:13 +0000 Further questions about the fiasco involving football superstar Lionel Messi in Hong Kong have emerged amid conflicting claims of when exactly the organiser of a match featuring Inter Miami was informed that he would sit out the entire game. Michel Lamuniere, the chairman of luxury lifestyle brand Tatler Asia, which organised the friendly between Inter Miami and a city select team earlier this month, told a sports media outlet on Thursday he only discovered Messi would not play “15 minutes... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3252209/tatler-asia-gives-conflicting-account-when-it-knew-messi-would-not-play-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3252209/tatler-asia-gives-conflicting-account-when-it-knew-messi-would-not-play-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Feb 2024 09:43:10 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. I refer to the report, “Messi affair in Hong Kong: no-show Argentine football legend leaves fans furious, sparks calls for refund” (February 4). Yes, I’m angry. We all are. Who wouldn’t be in our... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3252143/why-messi-struck-nerve-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3252143/why-messi-struck-nerve-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Feb 2024 06:30:08 +0000 Lionel Messi appeared to be over the injury blamed for his Hong Kong no-show as he played for Inter Miami against Newell’s Old Boys, but his coach admitted their club’s eventful preseason had been “not the best”. Days after sparking anger and requests for refunds by sitting out Miami’s appearance in Hong Kong, the superstar – who had since had half an hour’s action as a substitute in Japan – was fit enough to start the friendly match in Florida on Thursday local time. He lasted until the 60th... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3252142/lionel-messi-hong-kong-chases-refunds-he-plays-60-minutes-inter-miami-against-newells-old-boys-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3252142/lionel-messi-hong-kong-chases-refunds-he-plays-60-minutes-inter-miami-against-newells-old-boys-his?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Feb 2024 03:56:31 +0000 The Lionel Messi mess is going to rile, for some time, Hongkongers and those who made the trip to the city to see Inter Miami play the Hong Kong XI in the wildly anticipated exhibition game. It’s the first time in a long while that something has caused so much excitement – and so much outrage. Whatever happened – not least what kept Messi and Luis Suarez off the pitch in Hong Kong but not for the friendly against J-League champion Vissel Kobe in Tokyo just 72 hours later – may never be fully... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3251455/enter-dragon-lets-show-world-what-hongkongers-are-made?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3251455/enter-dragon-lets-show-world-what-hongkongers-are-made?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Feb 2024 01:30:08 +0000 Everybody hates Lionel Messi now but it’s not clear why China needed to cancel the Argentina games in Hangzhou and Beijing next month. For sure we should blame Inter Miami and match organiser Tatler Asia for the fiasco in Hong Kong, but his national team? At most, Messi should be declared persona non grata but his team from Argentina should be able to play on the mainland. The Hangzhou Sports Bureau said in an official statement that the conditions for hosting an international match were not met... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3251671/lionel-messi-has-only-added-beijings-displeasure-argentina?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3251671/lionel-messi-has-only-added-beijings-displeasure-argentina?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Feb 2024 13:00:10 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. The 2022 Qatar World Cup was a fairy tale for Lionel Messi. My family has followed Messi since. After defeating France in the final, he was often booed when he played for Paris Saint-Germain. Aged... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3251403/hong-kong-give-messi-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3251403/hong-kong-give-messi-break?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Feb 2024 03:30:12 +0000 Mainland China’s sports authorities appear to have ruled out an appearance by Lionel Messi next month after the Argentine football star’s earlier no-show for a Hong Kong friendly match with his club side Inter Miami. The Argentina national squad, captained by Messi, last month scheduled a tour of China during the international break from March 18-26, which included friendly matches with Nigeria in Hangzhou and against Ivory Coast in Beijing. But the Beijing Football Association, which oversees... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251635/mainland-chinese-sports-authority-says-no-plans-host-football-matches-involving-lionel-messi-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251635/mainland-chinese-sports-authority-says-no-plans-host-football-matches-involving-lionel-messi-after?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Feb 2024 11:15:18 +0000 A partial refund to ticket holders of last Sunday’s beleaguered Inter Miami football match in which star player Lionel Messi was a no-show may help to ease the anger of those who handed over money but will have little effect on soothing the wider public in Hong Kong and mainland China, analysts have said. The Beijing Football Association on Saturday said the capital currently had “no plans to organise games involving Messi” in a statement issued after a surge in inquiries from fans and social... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3251599/partial-refund-messi-no-show-hong-kong-may-sooth-fans-wider-public-mainland-chinese-still-angry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3251599/partial-refund-messi-no-show-hong-kong-may-sooth-fans-wider-public-mainland-chinese-still-angry?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Feb 2024 00:30:26 +0000 “Scam of the century” and “refund” were among the angry chants directed at Lionel Messi and Inter Miami due to the football legend’s absence from the Hong Kong pitch during the much-publicised exhibition match on February 4. These chants continue to resonate throughout the city, and Messi’s subsequent participation in a game in Japan just three days later only added insult to injury for local fans. The incident, now infamous as the “Messi Mess”, continues to dominate headlines worldwide after... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3251375/messi-hong-kong-fiasco-how-beckham-could-have-averted-pr-disaster-century-fans-impressive-control?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3251375/messi-hong-kong-fiasco-how-beckham-could-have-averted-pr-disaster-century-fans-impressive-control?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Feb 2024 00:15:15 +0000 Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi used to compete for Ballon d’Or trophies, La Liga titles, Champions League medals and the rest of football’s top accolades. But now, the two greatest players of their generation have found a new battleground, and there is no doubt who is surging ahead in the race for the affections of Chinese fans. While Messi is still reeling from the anger created by his non-appearance in an exhibition game in Hong Kong, Ronaldo has posted a video on the Chinese social media... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251557/ronaldo-beats-messi-race-recapture-hearts-chinese-fans-lunar-new-year-video-message?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251557/ronaldo-beats-messi-race-recapture-hearts-chinese-fans-lunar-new-year-video-message?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:00:16 +0000 Chinese officials in Hangzhou have cancelled a friendly international involving Lionel Messi’s Argentina football team and Nigeria that was scheduled to take place in the city next month, with organisers saying conditions are not yet ideal for the friendly game. The cancellation comes after Messi ignited widespread anger by sitting out a match in Hong Kong last Sunday citing a thigh injury and forcing the organiser Tatler Asia to offer refunds amid mounting public and official pressure. Fans... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251516/disappointed-fans-could-be-given-partial-refund-over-lionel-messi-no-show-during-inter-miami?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251516/disappointed-fans-could-be-given-partial-refund-over-lionel-messi-no-show-during-inter-miami?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Feb 2024 05:18:30 +0000 A leading sports injury specialist has said there was nothing strange about Lionel Messi being able to play in Japan just 72 hours after injury ruled him out of an exhibition game in Hong Kong. But a leading academic in the city said the inflammation the Argentinian experienced appeared to be a minor problem, and questioned whether it would have been bad enough to prevent him playing any part in the match last weekend. Messi’s absence, because of what his club, Inter Miami, said was an injury... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251484/lionel-messi-hong-kong-experts-divided-over-whether-argentinians-injury-was-serious-enough-stop-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251484/lionel-messi-hong-kong-experts-divided-over-whether-argentinians-injury-was-serious-enough-stop-him?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Feb 2024 03:11:52 +0000 The Policy Dialogue Series was launched under the auspices of the University of Science and Technology and Education University in 2018 to address Hong Kong’s complex issues and public policy challenges. It is deeply rooted in knowledge-sharing and pursuing open and constructive dialogue, fostering collaboration and innovation, proposing practical solutions and encouraging trade investment. I was invited to attend the sixth edition. The theme explored Hong Kong’s capacity to maintain and develop... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3251265/long-complacent-hong-kong-must-ditch-outdated-formulas-move-forward?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3251265/long-complacent-hong-kong-must-ditch-outdated-formulas-move-forward?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Feb 2024 01:30:17 +0000 Public pressure for refunds is mounting against the organiser of a football match featuring Inter Miami in Hong Kong as a lawmaker has threatened to take complaints to court within a week if Tatler Asia failed to give a proper explanation over star Lionel Messi’s failure to play. Messi played in Japan but remained on the bench for the whole game in Hong Kong, which sparked further speculation by analysts, including an opinion piece by mainland Chinese newspaper Global Times, which said it... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3251376/messi-match-organiser-faces-mounting-pressure-refunds-hong-kong-lawmaker-threatens-take-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3251376/messi-match-organiser-faces-mounting-pressure-refunds-hong-kong-lawmaker-threatens-take-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Feb 2024 06:29:26 +0000 One of my favourite pursuits after returning to England from Hong Kong has been to attend top flight football matches. Last Sunday, as Lionel Messi sat rooted to the bench at Hong Kong Stadium, I headed into London to join a vocal crowd of 60,000 at the top-of-the-table clash between Arsenal and Liverpool. When the teams were announced, several top players were missing. They were injured. Both teams were without their star strikers. No one thought there was anything unusual or improper about... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3251342/why-lionel-messi-not-blame-inter-miami-vs-hong-kong-exhibition-match-fiasco?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3251342/why-lionel-messi-not-blame-inter-miami-vs-hong-kong-exhibition-match-fiasco?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Feb 2024 03:44:35 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. In the past few days, it has been hard to not notice the news about the match between Inter Miami and the Hong Kong team on February 4. In addition to the massive news coverage locally, I saw... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3251209/messi-debacle-shows-hong-kong-needs-its-event-management-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3251209/messi-debacle-shows-hong-kong-needs-its-event-management-game?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Feb 2024 03:30:12 +0000 A makeshift Hong Kong team suffered penalty shoot-out disappointment against a Guangdong XI last night, after their two-goal first-leg advantage was wiped out inside 67 minutes at a sodden Yuexiushan Stadium in Guangzhou. Guangdong scored all four of their kicks, following a 3-1 victory on the night, and finished with a flourish when Liao Junjian floated a fabulous “Panenka” kick into the middle of the goal to win the 42nd edition of the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup. Paco Chan Hoi-pak smacked the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251312/hong-kong-suffer-shoot-out-agony-makeshift-team-surrender-advantage-guangzhou?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251312/hong-kong-suffer-shoot-out-agony-makeshift-team-surrender-advantage-guangzhou?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Feb 2024 15:27:32 +0000 Lionel Messi played the closing half-hour as Inter Miami lost a penalty shoot-out to Vissel Kobe last night after the 90 minutes in Tokyo finished scoreless. The Argentine superstar was roared on to the field at Japan National Stadium, with the gleeful locals relieved to avoid the misery endured by Hongkongers when Messi stayed rooted to the bench in Sunday’s exhibition match. Moving freely and appearing untroubled by the adductor injury that was cited for his failure to appear in Hong Kong,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251307/lionel-messi-flickers-cameo-inter-miami-lose-japan-after-hong-kong-furore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251307/lionel-messi-flickers-cameo-inter-miami-lose-japan-after-hong-kong-furore?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Feb 2024 13:52:22 +0000 Argentinian football star Lionel Messi played the final 30 minutes of his Inter Miami team’s game against Vissel Kobe in Japan on Wednesday, the sharp contrast further fuelling the anger of fans in Hong Kong where he sat out his game just three days ago citing an injury and left the city outraged. He missed Sunday’s encounter at Hong Kong Stadium with his coach Gerardo Martino and club, with a bruised thigh keeping him out of the action. Miami also opted to rest Luis Suarez, although gave no... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251266/lionel-messi-named-subs-bench-vissel-kobe-clash-suarez-start-hong-kong-fans-continue-demand-answers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251266/lionel-messi-named-subs-bench-vissel-kobe-clash-suarez-start-hong-kong-fans-continue-demand-answers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Feb 2024 09:23:54 +0000 Inter Miami have responded to the backlash over Lionel Messi’s no-show in Sunday’s exhibition match at Hong Kong Stadium, and said they “tried everything possible” for the Argentine to play. Messi sat out the game against a Hong Kong XI, with an adductor injury blamed for his absence. Speaking on Tuesday, in Tokyo, where Inter Miami complete their global preseason tour against Vissel Kobe today, the 36-year-old said it was “a shame” he could not take part, and he hoped to return to Hong Kong to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251234/inter-miami-sorry-messi-let-down-club-responds-after-consuming-headlines-and-negativity-eyes-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251234/inter-miami-sorry-messi-let-down-club-responds-after-consuming-headlines-and-negativity-eyes-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:56:20 +0000 Hong Kong’s Consumer Council has received more than 600 complaints over football superstar Lionel Messi’s decision to sit out a recent high-profile match, as the watchdog waited for the event’s organiser to respond to mediation requests from customers. 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... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251225/hong-kong-consumer-watchdog-receives-629-complaints-over-messi-debacle-high-profile-friendly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251225/hong-kong-consumer-watchdog-receives-629-complaints-over-messi-debacle-high-profile-friendly?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Feb 2024 04:50:46 +0000 Did you miss out on the chance to not watch Lionel Messi play in Hong Kong? Or could you be tempted to give him another try? Or has the commotion this week – the world’s greatest footballer sitting out a match, and subsequent cries for refunds – really sold it to you as a first-time fan? Argentine icon Messi and his club Inter Miami are (how to phrase this?) theoretically due to delight spectators in Tokyo on Wednesday when they play the next friendly match of their preseason tour against... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251190/lionel-messi-after-fans-cry-scam-hong-kong-any-takers-us20000-special-experience-inter-miami-ticket?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251190/lionel-messi-after-fans-cry-scam-hong-kong-any-takers-us20000-special-experience-inter-miami-ticket?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Feb 2024 23:00:18 +0000 From Lionel Messi’s portrayal as a national security threat to fans suggesting his no-show was a bigger scam than JPEX crypto, there was hyperbole and sarcasm on social media as Hongkongers tried to put Inter Miami’s visit into perspective. With the US club moving on to Tokyo, the flak continued to fly in their previous port of call, while some tried to raise a smile about the sorry affair. On Sunday, Messi had warmed the bench for 90 minutes and then refused to address the crowd following Inter... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251170/lionel-messi-fiasco-hong-kong-moves-next-stage-grief-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251170/lionel-messi-fiasco-hong-kong-moves-next-stage-grief-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Feb 2024 13:28:07 +0000 Lionel Messi offered hints that he may play in Inter Miami’s friendly in Tokyo on Wednesday as he spoke for the first time in a troubled few days, then trained alongside teammates without evident discomfort. The Argentinian had left Hong Kong under a cloud after his unannounced non-involvement because of injury overshadowed Miami’s game against a local select on Sunday, unleashing a fierce backlash in the city. What if any part Messi will play in the next stop on Miami’s tightly scheduled tour... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251141/will-lionel-messi-play-japan-inter-miami-after-hong-kong-no-show-sparked-calls-refunds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251141/will-lionel-messi-play-japan-inter-miami-after-hong-kong-no-show-sparked-calls-refunds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Feb 2024 09:47:15 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. Football matches usually attracted legions of fans to stadiums when I was a child. Somehow, the tide has turned. Local matches today hardly draw a thousand spectators. Other matches fare better.... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3250959/how-hong-kong-can-move-messi-head-held-high?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3250959/how-hong-kong-can-move-messi-head-held-high?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Feb 2024 06:30:08 +0000 Star footballer Lionel Messi has broken his silence over his no-show at Inter Miami’s match in Hong Kong on Sunday, saying it was “a shame” that thigh muscle discomfort had made it difficult for him to play and that he hoped to return “whenever he can” after tens of thousands of furious fans vented their anger. Messi, training in Tokyo after leaving Hong Kong for the next stage of the US team’s tour, on Tuesday said he had wanted to take part in the game in the city. “It was bad luck that I... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251091/lionel-messi-blames-thigh-muscle-discomfort-not-playing-hong-kong-football-friendly-after-furore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251091/lionel-messi-blames-thigh-muscle-discomfort-not-playing-hong-kong-football-friendly-after-furore?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Feb 2024 06:21:46 +0000 Hong Kong’s leader redoubled his call for the organiser of Inter Miami’s preseason friendly to disclose details of its deal with the US football club and address the demands of disappointed fans after superstar Lionel Messi sat out the game despite officials’ advice. Messi, who has travelled to Japan with his team, revealed on Tuesday he had fluid trapped in his thigh muscle that had caused swelling, which was why he could not play in Hong Kong. But video clips posted online showed him taking... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251084/hong-kong-leader-john-lee-urges-messi-match-organiser-disclose-deal-inter-miami-address-demands-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251084/hong-kong-leader-john-lee-urges-messi-match-organiser-disclose-deal-inter-miami-address-demands-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:08:36 +0000 As the blame game continued in Hong Kong over football fans being denied the chance to see Lionel Messi play in the city, one piece of paper and a social media post were emerging as bones of contention. Amid the inquest over Inter Miami’s match against a local team on Sunday, when a near-40,000 crowd paid handsomely to watch the world’s greatest player only to leave disappointed, the event’s organiser Tatler Asia has said naming Messi as a substitute amounted to the US club indicating he was fit... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3251077/hong-kongs-lionel-messi-blame-game-smoking-gun-nails-inter-miami?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3251077/hong-kongs-lionel-messi-blame-game-smoking-gun-nails-inter-miami?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Feb 2024 04:28:46 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong authorities should keep a closer eye on private organisations that apply for public funds for major sports events after public outrage erupted when football superstar Lionel Messi sat out a friendly match between his Inter Miami and a Hong Kong select, analysts have said. They told the Post public-private partnerships should still be used to help attract big sporting events, but that there was a risk of damage to the city’s reputation if others suffered similar controversies. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251035/hong-kong-needs-more-closely-vet-private-sector-event-promoters-who-get-public-funds-wake-lionel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251035/hong-kong-needs-more-closely-vet-private-sector-event-promoters-who-get-public-funds-wake-lionel?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Feb 2024 02:30:09 +0000 Heaven hath no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a city scorned. That’s why Hong Kong hates Lionel Messi now. And it’s a totally understandable sentiment, given how the Argentine football star has not only insulted his many fans here by sitting out the much-vaunted exhibition match they paid exorbitant prices to watch, but also rubbed salt on their wounds with his churlish behaviour. Messi deserves to bear the brunt of public anger, but the minders of his Inter Miami squad,... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3251036/hong-kong-hates-messi-and-he-deserves-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3251036/hong-kong-hates-messi-and-he-deserves-it?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Feb 2024 23:30:08 +0000 Angry football fans besieged Inter Miami’s social media as the American club headed from Hong Kong to Tokyo, with some warning Japanese counterparts that they too may face disappointment. Amid the commotion over the non-appearance of star player Lionel Messi in their match in Hong Kong the previous day, Miami’s post on X (formerly Twitter) about the next stop of their preseason tour was met with a wave of hostility. It was swamped with over 240 comments in just the first three hours on Monday,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251039/lionel-messi-and-inter-miami-told-get-out-hong-kong-fans-warn-japan-risks-heartbreak-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3251039/lionel-messi-and-inter-miami-told-get-out-hong-kong-fans-warn-japan-risks-heartbreak-next?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Feb 2024 23:15:15 +0000 A weekend of football with Inter Miami in Hong Kong began with so much excitement and promise, and ended in so much disappointment for fans of superstar Lionel Messi. It had nothing to do with the score. As the seconds ticked down, it dawned on everyone attending that the famous footballer, who had spent the entire time on the bench nursing an injury, would not set foot on the pitch for the match. The crescendo of boos that coursed through Hong Kong Stadium as time expired was hardly surprising.... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3251033/lessons-be-learned-after-series-own-goals-hong-kongs-football-fiasco?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3251033/lessons-be-learned-after-series-own-goals-hong-kongs-football-fiasco?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Feb 2024 22:15:13 +0000 Furious football fans on Monday vented their anger at Lionel Messi’s no-show at an exhibition game in Hong Kong, with some saying he disrespected the city, while others shared stories of 12-hour flights and thousands of dollars down the drain. On Sunday, to audible dismay at Hong Kong Stadium, Messi, regarded as one of the greatest footballers to ever play the game, sat on the substitutes’ bench for 90 minutes and watched his Inter Miami teammates beat a side representing the hosts 4-1. Fans had... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3251018/lionel-messi-doesnt-care-about-hong-kong-and-xinjiang-fans-12-hour-trek-chinese-social-media-blasts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3251018/lionel-messi-doesnt-care-about-hong-kong-and-xinjiang-fans-12-hour-trek-chinese-social-media-blasts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Feb 2024 11:46:49 +0000 The fallout has begun in Hong Kong after close to 40,000 fans paid to see Lionel Messi play in the city only for the Argentinian not to play. We assess the questions being asked by football fans and the wider public. What happened to Messi? Messi attended the match in Hong Kong between his club Inter Miami and a local invitational team. He was the main attraction for those who had bought tickets, priced HK$880 to HK$4,880 (US$113 to US$624), and higher still on re-sale sites. But Messi was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3251013/why-did-lionel-messi-not-play-hong-kong-what-contract-said-when-government-was-told-news-ticket?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3251013/why-did-lionel-messi-not-play-hong-kong-what-contract-said-when-government-was-told-news-ticket?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Feb 2024 11:03:58 +0000 Reputation, be it in the world of business, sport or personally, is everything, and once lost can take an age to get back, if at all. Hong Kong’s, as an influential city that hosts events of global renown, was hard-won, and has been hard to regain after the events of the past several years. Officials are keen to raise that international profile still further, and the arrival of Lionel Messi – the world’s best footballer of his or, arguably, any generation – with his club Inter Miami should have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3250975/hong-kongs-lionel-messi-disaster-certainly-made-impression-how-long-will-it-take-live-it-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3250975/hong-kongs-lionel-messi-disaster-certainly-made-impression-how-long-will-it-take-live-it-down?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Feb 2024 09:30:11 +0000 The organiser of a football match that superstar Lionel Messi sat out in Hong Kong, disappointing tens of thousands of fans, has withdrawn its application for HK$16 million (US$2.04 million) in government sponsorship for the much-anticipated event in the face of public outrage and official pressure. Tatler Asia also revealed on Monday that Messi was said to be fit to play and included on the team sheet submitted by Inter Miami’s management before the match against a Hong Kong XI on Sunday. But... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3250935/hong-kongs-messi-debacle-grows-lawmakers-sports-industry-leader-demand-authorities-take-back-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3250935/hong-kongs-messi-debacle-grows-lawmakers-sports-industry-leader-demand-authorities-take-back-event?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Feb 2024 03:50:53 +0000 Perhaps only one person involved in Sunday’s exhibition match between a Hong Kong XI and Inter Miami was not measuring its success in degrees of Lionel Messi. The supporters who filled Hong Kong Stadium created a tremendous prematch atmosphere before switching to disenchantment as it became clear that Messi, the man they had paid to see, would not be playing in a game that the visitors won 4-1. But Jorn Andersen, the Hong Kong national team coach who took charge of Miami’s opponents, had other... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3250912/lionel-messi-farce-enrages-hong-kong-theres-more-important-match-wednesday-citys-coach-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3250912/lionel-messi-farce-enrages-hong-kong-theres-more-important-match-wednesday-citys-coach-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Feb 2024 23:45:14 +0000 This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Tens of thousands of fans who paid premium prices or spent exorbitant sums on scalped tickets to watch Lionel Messi play in Hong Kong left deeply disappointed as the football star sat out the highly anticipated exhibition game on Sunday. The government demanded answers from the organisers, who had led the city to believe Messi would play despite an injury,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3250909/messi-affair-hong-kong-no-show-argentine-football-legend-leaves-fans-furious-sparks-calls-refund?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3250909/messi-affair-hong-kong-no-show-argentine-football-legend-leaves-fans-furious-sparks-calls-refund?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Feb 2024 15:29:48 +0000 Inter Miami’s victory in their much-hyped match at Hong Kong Stadium was completely overshadowed by outrage on Sunday, as fans were left angry and disappointed at the lack of involvement of the main attraction, Lionel Messi. Instead of fielding questions about his team’s performance against a Hong Kong team, the American club’s head coach Gerardo Martino began his post-match press duties with a plea for Hong Kong fans’ forgiveness over Messi’s failure to make it off the bench. As Inter officials... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3250908/lionel-messis-hong-kong-trip-becomes-greatest-let-down-all-time-goats-day-bench-leaves-inter-miami?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3250908/lionel-messis-hong-kong-trip-becomes-greatest-let-down-all-time-goats-day-bench-leaves-inter-miami?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Feb 2024 14:59:57 +0000