I felt compelled to speak out about the controversy surrounding the recent friendly match between Inter Miami in Hong Kong. What was expected to be a sports feast turned into a public relations crisis due to the absence of Messi and Suarez, which undoubtedly threw a shock bomb on the organizers, fans and even the entire Hong Kong sports community.
First of all, for the tournament organizers, their mistake was not only the ignorance of the absence of Messi and Suarez, but also the over-reliance on the appeal of the two stars in the early promotion and the failure to develop effective alternatives and risk countermeasures. When these two core players failed to participate as scheduled, the organizers were clearly in a passive position, and their response was also stretched. This not only damages the interests of the fans, but also has an irreparable impact on the credibility of the organizers themselves.
As a member of the Legislative Council, Mr. Fok Kai-kong's voice undoubtedly represents the voice of a considerable number of Hong Kong citizens and fans. His disappointment was not only due to the frustration of personal feelings, but also based on a strong condemnation of the irresponsible behavior of the organizers. Mr. Fok's statement referred to "overwhelming publicity", which just exposed the excessive and biased marketing strategy of the organizers. When all the focus is on Messi alone, the value and significance of the entire tournament seems to collapse once the star is absent for any reason.
However, we also have to wonder why there are such low-level mistakes in the preparation of such an important event. Is it the hosts' mismanagement of player contracts? Or is it a neglect and negligence in the preparation of the event? Whatever the cause, this incident is a wake-up call for the organizers and the sporting community as a whole: the pursuit of commercial interests must not be neglected without neglecting respect and responsibility for the event itself and the fans.
In addition, this incident has also triggered us to think deeply about the relationship between sports stars and sports events. In today's commercialization of sports, the influence of star players has undoubtedly become an important factor in the success of the event. However, when a player's personal factors (e.g., health, family, etc.) conflict with business interests, what do we choose? This is not only a question that the organizers need to think about, but also a common topic that the entire sports world and even society need to work on.
To sum up, the controversy caused by Inter Miami's friendly match in Hong Kong is far from being summed up by a simple public relations crisis. It exposes major loopholes in the organizers' preparation and risk management, and also triggers us to think deeply about the relationship between star players and events in the context of sports commercialization. It is hoped that this incident will be an opportunity for reflection and progress on all sides, rather than just the end of a farce.
Hotspot Engine Program