Published 1 year ago • loading... • Updated 1 year ago

Lionel Messi explains Hong Kong no-show in video to fans as backlash grows

Lionel Messi clarifies his absence in Hong Kong was due to injury, not politics, to dispel false rumors.
Hong Kong politicians criticize Messi, demand refunds for fans, and cancel upcoming friendly matches after the controversy.
The organizer of the Hong Kong match offers a 50% refund to ticket holders due to Messi's no-show.

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Sky News UK

Lionel Messi explains Hong Kong no-show in video to fans as backlash grows

In a video posted on Weibo, the footballer appealed directly to his fans in mainland China and Hong Kong, saying his absence was not due to political reasons.

1 year ago·United Kingdom

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The Epoch Times

Lionel Messi Canceled by the CCP After Absence From Friendly Match in Hong Kong

Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi’s absence from a friendly match in Hong Kong between Inter Miami and a local club on Feb. 4, has led to a significant backlash from disappointed fans. Following the incident, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has taken measures to censor Messi’s visibility in state media by excluding him from programs and advertisements. As a result, various brands endorsed by Messi in China are also affected. On Feb. 12, the C…

1 year ago·New York, United States

Messi denies political snub was behind Hong Kong no-show

Lionel Messi denied his absence from a match in Hong Kong two weeks ago that angered China was a political snub, but was caused by an injury. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is idolized by fans in China but stayed on the bench during Inter Miami's 4-1 win in a pre-season tour match against a Hong Kong select XI on February 4. A near 40,000 sellout crowd, who had paid upwards of 1,000 Hong Kong dollars ($125) to see the 36-year-old superstar in…

1 year ago·Manila, Philippines

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Fortune

Lionel Messi takes to Chinese social media again to assure fans that his decision to skip a match in Hong Kong had nothing to do with politics

Inter Miami decided to bench Messi at a recent exhibition match in Hong Kong, sparking fan backlash and Chinese accusations of political motives.

1 year ago·New York, United States

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NBC News

Lionel Messi says he had no ‘political reasons’ for missing Hong Kong match

Soccer star Lionel Messi said his failure to play in an exhibition game in Hong Kong this month had nothing to do with “political reasons.”

1 year ago·United States

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Radio Free Asia

Soccer legend Messi explains again his Hong Kong sit-out in video

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has dismissed the political factor for his controversial sit-out of a friendly match in Hong Kong early this month that enraged Hong Kong and Chinese fans in a short video.. Speaking in Spanish, Messi stressed that the video, uploaded on China’s Weibo Monday, was intended to give the “true version so no one has to continue reading false stories.” He rejected reports that politics was at play, and if it were the case, h…

1 year ago·United States

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