![Lionel Messi sits on the bench during a friendly match in Hong Kong](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/4A82/production/_132547091_messi2.jpg)
Offended followers in Hong Kong booed Inter Miami throughout a pre-season pleasant after Lionel Messi didn’t play.
The 36-year-old Argentine World Cup winner, who suffered a hamstring damage, was left on the bench as Inter beat La Liga XI 4-1 in entrance of almost 40,000 followers.
There have been chants demanding a refund, whereas the speech of David Beckham, co-owner of Inter, was drowned out by boos.
The Hong Kong authorities stated the matches’ organisers, Tatler Asia, might face a discount in funding.
The federal government’s Main Sporting Occasions Committee stated: “With regard to Messi not taking part in the match right now, the federal government, in addition to all soccer followers, are extraordinarily upset with the organisers’ preparations. The organizer owes all soccer followers an evidence.”
He added: “MSEC will take follow-up measures with the organizer in accordance with the phrases and situations, which embody decreasing the quantity of funding on account of Messi not taking part in the match.”
MSEC stated it had awarded HK$15m (£1.5m) for the occasion in addition to a HK$1m grant for the venue.
A near-capacity crowd of 38,323 individuals at Hong Kong Stadium every paid greater than HK$1,000 (£101) for a ticket.
However Messi didn’t take part, and Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, who joined Inter Miami final December, missed the match resulting from a knee damage.
Within the second half, the chants of “We would like Messi” intensified because the Argentine captain, who was newly joined final July, continued to look at from the bench.
Beckham then descended into sarcasm as he tried to thank followers for his or her “superb help” after the ultimate whistle.
Organizers stated in an announcement: “Regardless of some information stories, Tatler had no details about Messi or Suarez not collaborating earlier than kick-off.
He added: “Messi and Suarez had been deemed unfit to play by their group’s medical division, a lot to everybody’s disappointment, together with us.”
Inter coach Gerardo Martino stated: “We perceive the followers’ disappointment within the absence of Messi and Suarez, and we apologize for that, however this resolution was made with our medical workers.”
“If there was a manner they may play even for a short while we might have finished it, nevertheless it was an excessive amount of of a danger.”