Messi stays on bench at Hong Kong exhibition matchCEFR B1
5 Feb 2024
Adapted from Oiwan Lam, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Derek Tang, Unsplash
The Hong Kong government issued a HKD 16 million cheque near the end of November 2023 to Tatler Asia to organise a friendly between Miami CF and a local team. Miami CF announced its Asia tour on December 8, 2023, and tickets for the Hong Kong match sold out within one hour.
About 40,000 people attended the match on February 4, 2024. Ticket prices ranged from HKD 880 (USD 113) to HKD 4,880 (USD 625). Rumours said Lionel Messi might not play because of a hamstring injury after Miami CF’s friendly at Al Nassr on February 1. Tatler Asia told fans hours before the match that Messi would appear, but during the 90-minute match Messi remained on the bench and Miami CF won 4–1.
Fans chanted “We want Messi”, later booed and called for refunds. Miami co-owner David Beckham and Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee were booed when they entered the pitch. Coach Gerardo Martino said Messi and Luis Suárez were deemed unfit to play by the team’s medical department. Hong Kong authorities said they were “extremely disappointed” and would consider cutting the funding. On February 5, Secretary Kevin Yeung said one of the key terms was for Messi to participate for at least 45 minutes, subject to fitness and safety.
Difficult words
- issue — to officially give or send somethingissued
- organise — to plan and arrange an event
- friendly — a non-competitive sports match for practice
- sell out — to have all tickets bought quicklysold out
- hamstring — a muscle at the back of the thigh
- bench — where players sit when not playing
- boo — to show strong public disapproval loudlybooed
- deem — to consider something in a stated waydeemed
- funding — money provided for a specific purpose
- participate — to take part in an activity or event
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- If you paid for an expensive ticket and a star player did not play, how would you feel and why?
- Do you think public money should be used to fund private sports events? Give one reason for your opinion.
- What could organisers do to avoid refund problems after matches like this? Give one or two simple ideas.
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