When an Argentinian football superstar, arguably the greatest of all time, graces the hallowed turf of Hong Kong Stadium, it creates quite the stir. As one Diego Maradona enhanced the reputation of himself and Hong Kong football in his ascendency over 40 years ago, it is Lionel Messi who perhaps tarnishes his – certainly in the eyes of the local Hongkongers – in what is a huge PR disaster for Inter Miami and Hong Kong organisers, Tatler.
EXCITEMENT BUILDS
Friday 8th December 2023, Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas announced that Inter Miami would visit Asia for the first time on a pre season tour, along with the world’s most recognisable face in football, Lionel Messi. In the subsequent seven weeks, Leo’s face has adorned billboards and boats and every other type of visual real estate. Co-owner David Beckham is no stranger to Hong Kong & Asia, and along with Xavier Asensi, the Chief Business Officer and former resident of Hong Kong, would both recognise the value of exporting the Inter Miami brand to enthusiastic locals in HK and the Greater China area.
It turns out that Messi wasn’t deemed fit enough to play, along with new signing Luis Suarez. Despite the knowledge (probably all along) that Messi wasn’t going to take the field, the club & organisers decided to pretend he would, even naming him on the bench to continue to deceive the paying public.
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
The match was billed as a chance for the Inter Miami squad to build up some form and fitness in preparation for the start of the MLS season on 22nd February. Football fans know that these goals can be achieved within the confines of Florida. There are however certain benefits to the club, primarily financial, in conducting these pre-season tours across far flung places, punting tickets to fans who are delighted to see the GOAT step foot in their land. The club are more than happy to leverage their star man to hike the prices of such a game – and evidently, fans are willing to stump up the money for such a privilege. Fair market.
Of course there’s always a risk that your favourite player may not be able to play a match for a specified number of reasons. As a football fan, you can appreciate and understand that if someone is injured, they’re injured.
Or if they’re not injured and can’t be arsed motivated to play on what they may consider to be a burdensome low-level pre-season tour, it can perhaps be “good media management” and maybe tell a little white lie that they are injured, as to implicitly acknowledge the support and feelings of those who have stumped up their hard earned money.
The complete show of contempt for all the buying fans to continue with the false narrative that Messi would play is nothing short of obscene. To pretend he’s on the bench, that he might make it onto the pitch even though the decision had already been made to not play him shows you what little care the decision makers of the club and event have about real fans. Messi hadn’t even bothered kit up it appeared, and the camera pans to close ups of his feet made it pretty obvious he had no intention of entering the field of play.
“We’ve got your money thanks Nah, sorry Leo couldn’t play in the end but tough shit, that’s life. Anyway thanks for the support, keep buying the pink shirts.“
Inter Miami, Feb 2024 Hong Kong (paraphrased)
Would it have been that hard to announce the injury, and instead arrange for an alternative solution? Perhaps a small lap of honour by Messi in the stadium beforehand / at half time is not a lot to ask, and would have surely eased some of the tension. Even on his walk from tunnel to bench, Messi did little to interact with the fans who were there primarily to pay homage to him.
The player himself isn’t even necessarily to blame; again if he’s unfit then it is what it is. But it as also a shame to watch him skulk around, showing little appreciation for the fans who will have been there to see him. Further proof yet again what a world away these superstars are from the reality & humility of the rest of the world.
It should be noted that the ire of the fans is not necessarily directed at Messi not playing, rather the lack of transparency in being forthcoming with the knowledge he wouldn’t play much earlier. Or even just at all. Gerardo Martino’s post-match press conference confirmed the decision had been made the morning of the game that Messi wouldn’t play – only to be further “clarified” by a post press conference spokesperson that he meant “the afternoon”. Right.
TATLER TALES
We’ve written before about how money really is the enemy of football, and it’s hard to look past this as anything other than an egregious money grab from the club and organisers in Hong Kong to exploit the loyalty of fans who are desperate to see a footballing icon play live.
XFEST organisers Tatler are rightfully firmly in the firing line, and whilst any decisions about the main man will undoubtedly have been out of their hands, the decision to not front it up and show the fans respect and honesty reflects extremely badly on their ability to demonstrate organisational leadership with any spine.
Tatler’s flagrant disregard & preparation for their much hyped pre-match event was already a painful watch. An excruciating stadium announcer, a dance performance from a group that were indistinguishable due to zero branding and some of the limpest pyrotechnics you’ve ever seen. Reliant on the fact that no one was really there for that, the absence of Messi just highlighted the amateur organisation even further of an event that will have raised over HK$ 100m ( US$ 12.5m) alone in ticket sales. Welcome to the Jungle was a sympathetic soundtrack as the teams traipsed out; the plentiful prey of the unsuspecting public being feasted on by the money grabbing commercial predators of the “world’s beautiful game”.
BAD FAITH
It’s worth mentioning that this game was organised to involve a Hong Kong team who were scheduled to be competing at their first Asian Cup in 55 years. Had they had advanced out of their group, they wouldn’t have been able to fulfil this fixture. Could it be argued that perhaps a plum home tie vs a team owned by football’s original megastar containing football’s GOAT could be a more appealing proposition to a player than Tajikistan away for example?
We’re not suggesting any lack of integrity on behalf of the playing squad, but it’s hardly a great vote of confidence from the Hong Kong FA that they didn’t really expect to advance. As it happens, Hong Kong were eliminated, and thus eligible to face Inter Miami. What was HKFA’s solution? Give a one day training session on short notice to a team half-comprised of the national team and the rest a hand picked selection of HKFA Premier League players.
In principle playing against an “All Star HKPL” Team is not a bad idea at all. The commercial benefits it brings and increase in desirability to play in the HKPL for example could be hugely appealing for prospective players, and provides local players opportunity to showcase their talents, especially if it became a regular feature in the HK football calendar. However, the fact it was only decided last minute shows further disorganisation & strategy from the governors of HK football. Was showcasing Hong Kong football and the development of the HK game really at the heart of this? I think we all know the answer. Just chuck any array of players out there and get the game played – and most importantly, get the cash in.
The players here aren’t to blame. Henri Anier of Lee Man acquitted himself well with a wonderfully taken goal, and will surely be a career highlight in scoring in such a high profile game with such esteemed spectating peers. Timothy Chow, Oliver Gerwig and Mikael Severo also enhanced their reputations, and it was nice to see experienced goalkeeper Hung Fai Yapp rewarded with the captain’s armband and a fine first half display.
Whilst scant consolation in the grander scheme of things, it was great to see local talent get their flowers. The talent in the Hong Kong football is here already, and perhaps future energies can be directed to the local game, both men and women’s, rather than toward the idols of those who perhaps feel they don’t need to show up on such occasions.
LEGACY
It’s not looking so good for Tatler and it’s inaugural XFEST. A cataclysmic failure of an event must rankle from bottom to top. The HK Gov were quick to distance themself from any involvement and have subsequently threatened financial action against the organisers by withdrawing their pre agreed sponsorship. In mitigation, it was a huge event to prepare on such a short timeframe, and it’s unclear that not being forthcoming with the truth, no matter how late, was as a result of contemptuous or incompetent decision making. As the old adage goes, it doesn’t really matter now:
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”
And when that feeling is of deceit at best – to others, betrayal, it will be difficult to mend that relationship with the fans.
Inter Miami CF could, and should, have at least 39,000 fans-for-life captured. Those pink and blacks jersey bought with zealousness will now be an expensive reminder of sadness and dishonesty for an entire generation. David Beckham has a fond reputation both in HK and worldwide of being seemingly quite genuine. It’s impossible to believe he wasn’t actively involved in all discussions, and as such his integrity will now also be tarnished somewhat.
As for Messi, he arrived as the current World Cup winning captain & the Greatest Player of All Time. Whilst his football legacy will undoubtedly and deservedly endure, at a time his abilities might be on the wane, his status in Hong Kong most certainly has fallen.
In the case of Maradona, he arrived in the Fragrant Harbour on his upward trajectory to becoming a global megastar, and whilst he was not renowned for his graciousness, the memory of his short stay in Hong Kong will be remembered with much greater affection.
There’s a theory in Chinese mythology called The Red Thread of Fate – or “red string theory”. An invisible red thread that goes around the finger or ankle of a person. Though the thread can cover indeterminate distance, and it may stretch, wind, twist or snag, it will never break.
It seems obvious that the red thread of fate indelibly links Argentinian World Cup winning captains Diego Maradona & Lionel Messi, but Hong Kong appears as a curious hitch in the red string web for both.
FC KOWLOON 