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Organisers of a Hong Kong football match that drew boos after star man Lionel Messi failed to play said yesterday they deeply regretted the no-show and would withdraw a bid for a HK$16 million ($2 million) government grant.
Tatler Asia’s CEO read out a statement yesterday evening confirming Messi had been contracted to take the field, un-less injured, in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong.
Instead, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has a leg muscle strain, stayed on the bench throughout Inter Miami’s 4-1 win against a Hong Kong select XI.
The match ended with Messi, his Inter Miami team, and club co-owner David Beckham being booed off by nearly 40,000 irate fans who had shelled out large sums to see the World Cup-winning captain play. — SuperSport.
Online Reporter
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