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6 months ago
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FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has released a video apology for missing a friendly match while injured, following an incident during Inter’s pre-season Miami.
Inter Miami were scheduled to play a friendly against a Hong Kong team on February 4, and tickets were sold at high prices due to Messi’s presence. However, fans reacted angrily when Messi was unable to play due to injury, booing him every time his image appeared in the stadium.
The controversy grew so big that the Hong Kong government got involved. The brand that organized the match in Hong Kong initially had it funded by a government grant of €2 million, which was approved. However, following the backlash, lifestyle and media brand Tatler Asia withdrew its grant application and refunded half the price of the tickets, which exceeded 500 euros for the most expensive.
Messi hated in China!
“The people of Hong Kong hate Messi, Inter Miami and the black hand behind them, for their deliberate and calculated contempt for Hong Kong. He should never be allowed to return to Hong Kong”tweeted Regina Ip, president of the Hong Kong Executive Council.
Messi has since released an apology video, denying false reports that he did not play for political reasons or anything other than injury, explaining that he suffered from adductor inflammation and was therefore unable to play.
According to Esport3, this did little to appease fans, and the post received more than 2 million interactions on Chinese social media site Weibo. Fans were furious that Messi did not issue an explicit apology and only explained his injury as the reason for not playing.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
