On February 7, Major League Soccer team Miami International played a friendly match with Japanese J League team Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, Japan. Messi came off the bench in the 60th minute and threatened the front court several times, causing the fans to exclaim.
After the game, Hong Kong Legislative Council member (sports, performing arts, culture and publishing) Fok Qigang issued another long article in response to the "Messi turmoil". He said that the various performances of Miami International (Hong Kong translation: International Miami CF) are to rub salt in the wounds of Hong Kong fans. He also said that the incident must not stop there.
The full text is as follows: I posted an article about the performance of "Inter Miami CF" and "Football King" Messi in Hong Kong, hoping to express my heart, but I also hope to know the truth and get a reasonable explanation.
Seeing Messi and the team leave Hong Kong by bus, the organizer Tatler briefly said a few polite words at the press conference, maybe they thought that this was the end of the matter. But there are still a lot of doubts in the hearts of the fans and Hong Kong people, and I still can't let go.
I believe that the fans, like me, are also very concerned about the dynamics of the "football king" Messi in Japan, whether it is the demeanor when he first arrived, or the state when he held a press conference, training, and then officially played during the game today, ** reported them one by one, seeing these news, I also have many doubts in my mind, and I am more angry.
Yesterday, I noticed that Messi personally mentioned twice at a press conference in Japan that he was not injured in Hong Kong, but he was a little uncomfortable, and the moment he heard it, it was unbelievable, which means that his "injury" is not so serious that he can't play. When the coach of the team was in Hong Kong, he did not arrange for Messi to play on the grounds that he was injured, claiming that he hoped that the fans would understand.
Should we trust Geraldo Martino or Messi? Who is lying?
The organisers, Tatler, claimed that they were also victims and only learned that Messi was not playing 10 minutes before the end. So on the issue of 40,000 ticket-buying fans and huge commercial interests, did the organizer ask the team leader to provide a professional medical report? Or does the team leader coach say it?
If Messi really didn't get injured, not playing can be said to be a violation of sportsmanship, and according to the requirements of the contract reported by **, he needs to play for more than 45 minutes, and not playing is also impacting the bottom line of business and involving a violation of the spirit of the contract. Is there room for our fans or sponsors who buy tickets to enter the stadium in accordance with the law?
I'm sure the fans have mixed feelings, understanding, disappointment, anger ......All kinds of emotions are contradictory and intertwined, and I can't let go of them for days. But now Messi actually said that he was not injured? As the "King of Football" sought after by tens of thousands of people, he actually broke the hearts of Hong Kong fans in a high-profile and public manner?
I suddenly remembered the visit of O'Sullivan, another "ball king" and billiards player, to Hong Kong last year, and in addition to the excitement of the game, he also praised the enthusiasm of the Hong Kong audience at the Red Pavilion, and even took the initiative to climb the mountain to the top of the mountain after the game to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Hong Kong and promote the beauty of Hong Kong. I was very moved to see this kind of picture at that time, moved that O'Sullivan respected Hong Kong fans, moved that O'Sullivan liked Hong Kong from the bottom of his heart, and hoped that more international sports stars would like Hong Kong in the future when they came here to compete.
I just saw Messi officially on the field, and then I think back to the lost scene of our 40,000 spectators in Hong Kong at the stadium, and the scene where Messi was expressionless and avoided taking photos throughout the whole process, it is really uncomfortable. I would like to reiterate that I hope Messi, Inter Miami CF, including team chairman David Beckham and the organizer Tatler, will give an explanation to the public.
As a member of the Legislative Council, which represents the world of sports, this matter must not stop there. I support the approach of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)**, although Tatler has given up the application for HK$16 million** funding, it does not mean that this tournament does not involve the public interest. So far, the Consumer Council has received hundreds of complaints, and the number is still rising. In the past few days, I have also noticed that many tourists, even from Xinjiang, have spent huge sums of money to see their idols. The current scene of the Hong Kong ball game is detrimental to Hong Kong's image. There is a significant public interest involved in this incident, and I will continue to follow up on the matter in the hope of getting an answer.
I don't want to comment too much on the team's performance and arrangement in Japan, but this kind of performance is undoubtedly rubbing salt in the wounds of our Hong Kong fans.
In addition, I also noticed a detail, Beckham hyped the news of the visit of the international Miami CF to Hong Kong, but why did he quietly go to Qatar during the Japanese stop? Is it because the Japan station has nothing to do with him?
*: @霍启刚, Global Network.