Lionel Messi's no-show in Hong Kong has reached epic proportions. Photo: Shutterstock/Frank Robichon
How do you get MLS, friendly to the Chinese public, to support British rule of the Falkland Islands in less than three steps? It can never be said that modern football has lost its ability to surprise.
When Inter Miami flew to Asia, it had modest goals. Get in shape, make some friends, maybe take some good photos of Sergio Busquets eating the gram of ramen. Instead, their pre-season tour sparked outrage as the gap between expectations and reality widened to unacceptable proportions.
The injured Lionel Messi could not be lifted from the bench in Miami's 4-1 win over Hong Kong's Local XI. Judging by the reaction, those in attendance did not buy tickets to see former Sunderland DeAndre Yedlin disappointed. Some fans started chanting «money back», which is a really disgusting thing. Leave them where they belong: Protests outside Ocado headquarters after the company delivers raw carrots too many times.
Fans Hong Kong demanded a refund after Messi's no-show. Photo: AP/Louise Delmotte
China is not interested, especially after Messi rallied and played the final half hour against Japan's Vissel Kobe three days later. There have been rumors of conspiracy and deliberate political slights as the scandal continues to escalate, almost two weeks after the game. China's friendly matches against Argentina scheduled for March have been cancelled. Miami owner David Beckham was booed. Haven't they seen this wonderful Netflix documentary? How can the nation not fall in love with this simple family man who just likes to fry mushrooms one at a time?
Messi's game in Japan is not liked it in China Photo: AFP/Philip Fong
Even Beckham's Instagram isn't safe. In a video promoting his signature scents, one user writes: «This behavior is fatally damaging to the credibility of the Miami club,» presumably referring to the disappointment of Messi's absence, rather than a topless Beckham buttoning up his shirt. «Players who do not submit to the club's cooperation are selfish traitors.» Another user said her eight-year-old son «cryed in his sleep» after playing in Hong Kong.
Humans, or perhaps spambots, are also hitting the Argentine people where it hurts: in social media comments. On Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, posts from the Argentine Embassy are now met with replies like: “Islas Malvinas is part of the UK. They were before, they are now and, of course, they will always be in the future. Your country also does not have the opportunity to take them back.”
The region's customs had killed several stars before Messi. The Beatles were kicked out of Manila in 1966 for refusing an invitation to a chocolate digestive with Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos. George H.W. Bush vomited into the lap of Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa in 1992, failing to pass it off as a sign of great respect in Texas. Snoop Dogg may never be invited back to South Korea after he was seen smoking marijuana in public in Seoul, which may shock you.
However, the fury over Messi's no-show is a world away from the feel-good story. last summer. His Florida victory lap started with last minute goals, Beckham in tears (happy look), Staffordshire kids put pink MLS jerseys on their Christmas lists.
No self-respecting major football club can do without pre-season matches in endlessly lucrative and untouched Asia. What these games should entail remains a matter of debate. Is it reasonable to expect the club's biggest stars to play non-competitive games? Tickets costing around £100 suggest yes.
Inter Miami booed after Messi was left out field bench in China Photo: AFP/Peter Parkes
The disappointment is understandable, but the right is less so. Some fans suggested that things would have been smoothed over if Messi had simply addressed the crowd or stayed around to sign autographs, which if he had done so would likely still be ongoing. The biggest problem here is turning football into something of a Las Vegas show. You'd be disappointed to buy tickets to see Adele at Caesars Palace if she were replaced at the last minute by Martine McCutcheon.
But athletes get injured. Messi may have entered his «Rosario Traveler» phase, but he is as prone to groin strains as any other 36-year-old footballer. You simply can't risk another setback in the crucial MLS opener against Real Salt Lake City in just a week.
Свежие комментарии