HONG KONG, Feb 5, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Lionel Messi had been contracted to play 
at least 45 minutes of a pre-season friendly that ended with his Inter Miami 
team being booed off, Hong Kong's sports minister said on Monday.

Ten of thousands of fans expected to see the World Cup-winning captain take 
part in Sunday's pre-season match against a Hong Kong XI after he was named 
among the Miami substitutes. 

But the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has a leg injury, stayed on the 
bench throughout his club Inter Miami's 4-1 win.

It prompted ugly scenes from the near-capacity crowd of 38,323 who had paid 
upwards of 1,000 Hong Kong dollars ($125) to see Messi.

They chanted "Refund!", gave thumbs-down signs and drowned out Miami co-owner 
David Beckham with booing as he tried to thank the crowd after the final 
whistle.

Kevin Yeung, Hong Kong's secretary for culture, sports and tourism told a 
news conference that government officials at the game had been repeatedly 
assured Messi would play.

Finally, 10 minutes from the end, they were informed that his injury -- 
inflammation of an abductor muscle -- would keep him out.

"We immediately requested them to explore other remedies, such as Messi 
appearing on the field to interact with his fans and receiving the trophy," 
Yeung said. 

"Unfortunately, as you all see, this did not work out."

Yeung warned that up to 16 million Hong Kong dollars of public money could be 
withheld from the organisers.

"One of the key terms of our funding agreement with (organisers) Tatler Asia 
was for Messi to participate in the match for at least 45 minutes, subject to 
fitness and safety considerations," he said.

"We haven't paid any money yet. In the coming weeks we will further liaise 
with the organiser Tatler Asia.

"We will discuss the performance of the whole event and we will make a 
decision on how to deal with the sponsorship."

Tatler Asia issued a statement late Sunday expressing their "extreme 
disappointment" that Messi did not play.

"Despite some news reports, Tatler did not have any information about the 
non-participation," it said.

Inter Miami and Messi are due to play the final pre-season match of their 
tour against Japan's Vissel Kobe in Tokyo on Wednesday. It is not clear 
whether Messi will recover in time.

The 36-year-old had played just six minutes in Miami's previous match in 
Saudi Arabia. The new MLS season in the United States starts on February 21.