Tatler Asia says it will partially refund Hong Kong tickets after Lionel Messi backlash

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Tatler Asia said it would partially refund money to ticket holders of a friendly match between a Hong Kong team and Inter Miami, after Lionel Messi’s failure to play over an injury prompted a furious backlash from fans, the Hong Kong government and Chinese state media.

The luxury lifestyle publication, which organised the fixture, said the 50 per cent refunds would cost up to HK$56mn ($7mn). It estimated it would lose as much as HK$43mn on the event. The company had anticipated making a profit of HK$13mn.

Tatler Asia, which was purchased by Swiss family business Edipresse two decades ago, said it was “heartbroken” by Messi sitting out the game and that it had “pleaded” with Inter Miami to urge the Argentine star to explain to spectators why he could not play. The fact that Messi played days later in Tokyo “feels like another slap in the face”, it said.

“We put our blood and sweat into bringing a world-class football match to Hong Kong and we were let down along with all of you,” it said. A spokesperson for the Tatler Asia Inter Miami event said the publication had no connection to Tatler UK.

The announcement followed a public and official backlash in Hong Kong, with officials and lawmakers criticising the event after Messi did not play. Pictures of the Argentine footballer had been central to the event’s marketing materials, which occupied prominent city-centre billboards for weeks, and fans had paid up to HK$4,880 a ticket.

The government had hoped that the high-profile event would boost its international image and economic fortunes. Decisions by pop superstars Taylor Swift and Coldplay to skip Hong Kong in favour of rival Asian destinations such as Tokyo and Singapore have become a sore point. Last month, before the Inter Miami game, lawmakers were debating how to bring high-profile stars back to the city in the Legislative Council, Hong Kong’s parliament.

“Our aspiration was to create an iconic moment in support of the government’s efforts to remind the world how relevant and exciting Hong Kong is. That dream is broken today for us and all those who bought tickets to see Messi on the pitch,” Tatler Asia added. The company this week withdrew its application for HK$16mn in public funding after Messi failed to play in the football match.

The Hong Kong government welcomed the decision. “Tatler Asia’s compensation plan is a responsible move which demonstrates it is willing to actively take responsibility,” it said in a statement.

Inter Miami said in a statement it was “sorry” about the no-shows from Messi and Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, who also did not play in Hong Kong. The team said both players were injured.

“Injuries are unfortunately a part of the beautiful game, and our player’s health must always come first,” it said.

The controversy has spread to the mainland after Chinese state tabloid and internet commentators criticised Messi for playing in Japan for half an hour just days after the Hong Kong fixture. Messi issued an apology on his official account on Chinese microblogging site Weibo on Wednesday.

Hong Kong’s consumer council said it had received 1,178 complaints over the match, involving more than HK$8mn in funds as of Thursday evening.

Rachel Chan, who paid HK$2,328 for her ticket to the match, said the refund was “better late than never” but that “this belated refund pales into insignificance when compared to the disappointment”.