China’s state-run Global Times has warned of possible “political motives” behind Lionel Messi’s failure to play in a much-publicised Hong Kong exhibition match, an absence which angered thousands of fans and the city’s government.
In an editorial on Thursday, the paper said the explanations offered by the Argentinian football icon for remaining on the bench and those given by his team Inter Miami were “not convincing.” It urged the team to come up with a “reasonable explanation” before its scheduled visit to China for a pre-season friendly in March.
“There is a lot of speculation about the true underlying reasons. One theory suggests that there might be political motives behind their actions, as Hong Kong intends to develop its mega-event based economy, and external forces deliberately seek to embarrass Hong Kong, ” the editorial said.
“Based on the unfolding events, it is not possible to entirely dismiss the possibility of such speculation.” Global Times did not specify who the external forces might be.
Founded in 1993, the Global Times is a state-run tabloid under the Communist Party’s flagship paper the People’s Daily. The tabloid is known for its hard-line editorials. Some analysts say the paper does not necessarily represent Beijing’s official line.
The Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday was filled with more than 38,000 local fans and tourists, who had bought tickets priced up to HK$4,880 to see their hero Messi. But jeers and cursing were heard from the stands towards the end of the match as Messi sat out the 4-1 win.
The government said it was “extremely disappointed” that Messi neither played in the Hong Kong friendly nor offered an explanation to the fans. Tatler Asia, host of the event, announced on Tuesday that it deeply regretted the no-show and would withdraw a bid for a HK$16 million grant from the Hong Kong government.
Inter Miami left for Japan on Monday. Messi said in a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday that “muscle discomfort” had made it difficult for him to play and he hoped to return to Hong Kong “whenever he can. ”
On Wednesday, Messi played for over 30 minutes in Inter Miami’s pre-season friendly in Tokyo.
In an response to HKFP, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau urged the event organisers and the team to explain why Messi was fit to play just three days after his Hong Kong trip.
“Three days later, Messi was actively playing in Japan, engaging in intense physical activities on the field for a considerable amount of time. Hong Kong citizens have many questions regarding this situation,” the bureau said in Chinese. “The government hopes that the organiser and the team can provide a reasonable explanation to address their concerns.”
‘Black hand’
Regina Ip, convenor of the government’s top advisory body the Executive Council and a pro-establishment lawmaker, blamed a “black hand” for Messi’s no-show.
“Hong Kong people hate Messi, Inter Miami, and the black hand behind them, for the deliberate and calculated snub to Hong Kong,” Ip wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday night.
China blamed “black hands” supposedly working for foreign forces for Hong Kong’s mass protests in 2019.
In another tweet, the politician said Hong Kong should never allow Messi to visit again.
Asked to clarify references to foreign interference, Ip told HKFP: “I have no hard evidence, but Messi behaved as though he was under some political directive not to play, not to shake hands with Hong Kong’s CE, not to speak, or smile or wave to Hong Kong’s fans. He apologised in Tokyo. Why not in Hong Kong?”
A viral clip showed Messi appearing to avoid shaking hands with Chief Executive John Lee at the stadium as players lined up for handshakes.
Ip added that questions over Messi’s motivation should be directed at the footballer, the team and its head David Beckham.
When HKFP approached Chief Executive John Lee’s office about claims of political motives, a government spokesperson said: “The Government urges Tatler Asia and Inter Miami CF to provide a reasonable explanation to clear all doubts arising from Messi not being able to play the game in Hong Kong on February 4 and his active participation in the game in Tokyo 3 days later.”
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