The capacity crowd inside the Hong Kong Stadium chanted “Refund! Refund! Refund!” as Inter Miami left football icon Lionel Messi on the bench for their recent friendly match against a Hong Kong XI.
Just days after they were thumped 6-0 by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, in which Messi came on as a late substitute, there would be more bad publicity for Inter Miami.
The result of the Hong Kong match mattered less to the 40,000 Hong Kong spectators than Messi’s absence from the game.
Inter Miami’s 4-1 win came without Messi playing, much to the sadness of all those watching.
Chants from the crowd quickly changed from “We want Messi” to “Where is Messi?” to “Refund! Refund! Refund!”
The Hong Kong government sprung into action as well to demand answers from the organisers.
“Messi was not able to play in the friendly game today and the government and fans are equally disappointed at the arrangements by the event organiser [Tatler],” it said.
“The event organiser owes fans an explanation.”
Inter Miami co-owner and former England international David Beckham was also booed off the pitch after he appeared for the post-match presentation.
The game was part of Miami’s preparations for the new Major League Soccer season in the United States and Canada, which kicks off on 22 February.
Pictured above: Lionel Messi warms the bench.
Image source: @mirrorussports
