According to @Voice of the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee said today (6th) that he was extremely disappointed that Messi failed to participate as the public expected, and the SAR still asked the organizers to do a good job in explaining the event.
On February 6, @霍启刚 also posted an article about Messi's absence from the exhibition game, Huo Qigang said: "In order to receive the 'football king' to come, the Hong Kong Airport Authority made special arrangements to hold a welcome ceremony on the tarmac. The high-standard treatment is to hope that the team can feel the enthusiasm of the city of Hong Kong and the respect of the citizens for the arrival of foreign guests. However, before the ceremony was over, the players left the field, indifferent to the call of the master of ceremonies, and hurriedly boarded the bus without knowing whether the players could not understand or could not hear. The scene was in an uproar, and I felt very disappointed watching the live broadcast, and I was also embarrassed by the guests and emcees on the scene. It's a shame that the elaborate arrangements we prepared for the arrival of the team were trampled on. ”
It was previously reported that in the football exhibition match of the Miami International team's 4:1 victory over the Hong Kong team on the 4th, the high-profile Argentine star Messi failed to play. After the game, Inter Miami head coach Martino explained that it was a decision made by the team based on the player's injury situation. The organizers of the tournament issued a statement late at night on the 4th, saying that they did not know in advance that Messi and Suarez were absent, and they were extremely disappointed by their absence. "Despite reports that the organisers were informed of the situation before the start of the game, we have not received any news in advance about the absence of Messi or Suarez. On the 5th, the organizer held a press conference, and a spokesman for the organizer said that the application for the HK$16 million** grant would be withdrawn.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ** issued a press release at 19:32 on the 4th, saying that Messi was unable to play in the exhibition match, and the SAR ** and a group of fans were also extremely disappointed with the organizer's arrangement. The organizers owe the fans an explanation. The Major Sports Events Committee will follow up with the organisers in accordance with the terms of the agreement, including possible deductions of sponsorship payments due to Messi's unavailability. At nearly 11 o'clock in the evening of the 4th, the Special Administrative Region ** issued a statement again saying that Messi was unable to play in the exhibition match, and failed to explain and explain in detail as soon as possible, expressing extreme disappointment.
Afterwards, Fok Kai-kong, a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong's sports, performing arts, culture and publishing sectors, also issued a statement expressing his disappointment with the arrangements made by the organizers. Fok Qigang said that in the past period, the organizers have been using the "football king" Messi as a promotion, and the overwhelming publicity has attracted the eager expectations of the public and fans, and the tickets have been sold out in an instant - the organizers and Miami International need to apologize and explain to the people of Hong Kong.
*: @大湾区之声, the party's social account, **, etc.