According to the comprehensive Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Hui Network and Dian News 7**, Argentine star Messi was absent from the exhibition match between Miami International and the Hong Kong Star Team of China due to injury on February 4, but on the 7th, he played about 30 minutes in a friendly match with Kobe Victory Ship in Japan, and he walked like a fly on the field, causing an uproar in Hong Kong. Fok Kai-shan, chairman of the Hong Kong Football Association, respondedIn just three days, Messi went from "injured and unable to play" to walking like flying, many Hong Kong fans were surprised, and the team coach and Messi had different statements about the injury, and the question of whether Messi was really injured and the real reason why he could not play was still unclear.
Messi plays in Japan. Source: Foreign media.
According to the report, Fok Qishan said that the incident has damaged the confidence of the outside world in Hong Kong to host football matches, and may deter sponsors in the future. Fok urged the organisers to take responsibility and give a detailed and fact-based explanation to the fans as soon as possible, including considering making public medical injury reports to clarify responsibilities, so as to restore the public's confidence in the development of football in Hong Kong.
Huo Qishan (data map) Source: Hong Kong media.
Hong Kong media said that Yang Yunxiong, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, also said on the evening of the 7th that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was extremely disappointed that Messi did not play in the Hong Kong Stars and Miami International Exhibition Match, as well as the fans. Yang Yunxiong said that the coach of the Miami international team said a few days ago that Messi could not play due to injury, but three days later, Messi was active and free to play in Japan, and had a short period of intense sports on the field, such a contrast made Hong Kong citizens have a lot of questions, and I hope that the organizer Tatler and the team can give a reasonable explanation to Hong Kong citizens to answer their questions.
*: Global Network, Sichuan Observation SCTV