Lionel Messi, 37, Inter Miami, is still angering Chinese fans with his “Hong Kong no-show”.
Messi was absent alongside Luis Suarez in a friendly against the Hong Kong All-Stars at Hong Kong Stadium on April 4. Inter Miami won the match 4-1. Messi complained of a thigh injury and ended up missing the game. Hong Kong fans were very disappointed. They demanded an apology and a refund when Messi didn’t show up.
Chinese fans were even more upset when Messi came on as a second-half substitute against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, Japan, on July 7. “Didn’t Messi play in Hong Kong because of an injury that healed in just two days?” they asked.
“Messi didn’t play in Hong Kong because of political issues in Hong Kong,” they pointed out. Messi’s social media has been flooded with comments from Chinese fans cursing him.
Messi posted a video apologizing on Chinese social media Weibo. 토토사이트 “I didn’t play in Hong Kong due to injury,” he said. The rumors that I didn’t play because of political issues are not true. If I didn’t intend to play in Hong Kong, I wouldn’t have gone. I want to play in every game,” he apologized.
But China’s anger has not abated. Even politicians in China and Hong Kong have criticized Messi. The Argentina national team was scheduled to play in China, but it was canceled.