Title: International Controversy Over Lionel Messi’s Visit to Hong Kong
The controversy over Argentine football king Messi’s visit to Hong Kong continues to spread. The organizer refunded half of the ticket price, the team was forced to formally apologize, and the Chinese Communist authorities canceled related activities of Messi and the Argentine team in China in March. Former Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang said that elevating the Messi incident to a political level will further affect Hong Kong’s international reputation.
Lionel Messi’s team Inter Miami recently flew to Hong Kong to play a friendly match with the Hong Kong Stars. About 40,000 spectators paid up to US$640 to enter the event, hoping to catch a glimpse of Argentine football king Messi.
However, Messi missed the exhibition match due to injury and did not interact with fans throughout the game. He also skipped shaking hands with Hong Kong Chief Executive Li Jiachao. But three days later, he appeared for half an hour in a friendly match in Japan, causing a storm of public opinion. Messi was also boycotted by the Chinese Communist authorities.
On February 6, Messi said in Japan that he had discomfort in his thigh muscles when he played in Saudi Arabia at the end of January. He played only 7 minutes in the game on February 2 and did not play in the Hong Kong game on the 4th because of the decision of the head coach. Messi said that he knew that many people came to watch the game in Hong Kong, and the result was regrettable. He hoped to have the opportunity to play in Hong Kong again.
The Inter Miami team stated on the 9th that it originally considered waiting until the time is closer to the Hong Kong game before deciding whether to let Messi and Suarez play, but the medical staff assessed that they would bear great risks if they played. The team understands that the decision not to let the two players play has made Hong Kong fans dissatisfied and the tournament organizer “Tatler” is disappointed. Player injuries are not anyone’s fault. However, “unfortunately, injuries are a cruel part of this beautiful event.” “The team must reiterate the facts of these sports injuries and emphasize that “player health always takes priority.”
However, it seems that the Chinese Communist Party authorities did not consider the above statement and directly “removed” Messi from China.
On February 9, the Zhejiang Hangzhou Municipal Sports Bureau issued a statement stating that as a commercial event, a company had previously negotiated with the Argentinian team to play a friendly match in Hangzhou in March this year. The conditions for hosting the event are not mature and it has been decided to cancel.”
One day later, the Beijing Football Association also publicly announced through its Sina Weibo account that “Beijing currently has no plans to host related games in which Messi will participate.”
There is no news about Messi on the official website of the Chinese Football Association.
The Chinese Communist Party’s official media Global Times published an editorial with great fanfare, pointing out that Messi’s differential treatment of Hong Kong does not rule out political motives behind it. The article stated, “Hong Kong intends to build a grand event economy, and some external forces deliberately want to use this to embarrass Hong Kong.”
The pro-CCP Hong Kong Ta Kung Pao even pointed out that the owner of Inter Miami, the American professional team Messi plays for, “played for the CIA.”
The Wall Street Journal pointed out that it was Hong Kong that gave the performance political meaning. According to reports, since Taylor Swift’s global tour “Era Tour” is not held in Hong Kong, Hong Kong is turning to the star power of the world‘s top football star to revive its declining image.
Subsequently, due to the CCP’s intervention, the Messi incident was elevated to a political level, causing dissatisfaction from the outside world.
According to the Free Times, in response to this controversy, “All About Argentina”, a well-known account focusing on Argentine football news, also complained about Messi: “Thank God, if this is the case, they don’t deserve to see Messi. If they don’t understand that Messi is injured because of If they can’t play, that’s their problem. Instead of blaming David Beckham and Inter Miami for poor communication, those adults blame the injured Messi.”
Some netizens drafted a statement for Messi: F-Hangzhou Sports Bureau, F-Beijing Football Association, are you clear? It’s not me who wants to go to Hong Kong, it’s not me who wants to go to China, it’s you FA-Holes (meaning self-righteous) who invited me there. I don’t care about the little money you gave me. I will never play football in China again in this life. You will never see me play football again.
The former Financial Secretary of Hong Kong is worried that the Messi incident may further deteriorate Hong Kong’s international image.
On the 11th, he posted on Facebook: He and his wife also bought very expensive tickets to enter the stadium to see the king of football. Next to him was former Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang. Tsang Junhua pointed out that it was indeed a pity that Messi did not play. This was originally a grand event that everyone supported and loved, but it ended with boos and turned into an international incident. Good things turned bad. Why does it seem to be so common in recent years? However, if the incident is easily elevated to a political level, it will inevitably affect Hong Kong’s international reputation. This is something we should pay attention to.