On February 7, Argentine star Messi's official Weibo posted, the full text of which is as follows:
Hello to all fans and friends in Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. As I said at the press conference earlier, I was unfortunately unable to play in the friendly match in Hong Kong due to a groin injury, which was swollen and painful. Friends who know me will know that I want to give my best in every game, especially when I travel so far with my team-mates and the fans are looking forward to seeing us fit and healthy. Hopefully one day we will have the opportunity to come back and play for the fans and friends in Hong Kong. I also look forward to coming back to the mainland as soon as possible to share the joy of football with everyone.
Give everyone a hug and wish everyone a prosperous Year of the Dragon in advance.
The official website of Kobe Victory Boat announced the list of competitions:
Messi appears on the list of Inter Miami substitutes
At 18:00 Beijing time today, Miami International played a friendly match with J-League team Vissel Kobe in Japan. According to the list of Miami International matches published on the official website of Vissel Kobe, Messi appeared in the substitute lineup of Miami International.
According to the information on the official App of Vissel Kobe, Messi appeared in the substitute lineup of Inter Miami
Miami International responds
Miami International played an exhibition match with the Hong Kong Stars team at the Hong Kong Stadium on February 4, and Messi, who attracted much attention from fans, did not play and watched from the sidelines, causing dissatisfaction among fans. According to a report by Hong Kong Cable News on February 7, Miami International replied to the media, saying that it would do its best to arrange Messi and Suarez to play, but the physical condition did not allow it, and said that the player's injury was part of football, and thanked the organizer Tatler for his efforts to hold a wonderful event, and hoped to visit Hong Kong again in the future.
Hong Kong media said that not only Messi sat on the whole game, but Suarez also did not play the whole game. Source: Hong Kong media
According to the report, Miami International wrote in the response that Miami International Club is honored to be able to visit Hong Kong, and the club understands that all walks of life are disappointed by the absence of Messi and Suarez, and the club also regrets this, but the health of players always comes first.
Hong Kong Cable News reported that Miami International also said that it could guarantee that the players also wanted to participate in the game, so they also included the two in the roster. As for Messi's lack of warm-up, it was because he was assessed in the dressing room that he was too risky to play, and said that he had tried to fulfill all feasible promises, and waited until the last minute to decide not to let the two play. The team said it was grateful to the organizers for organising the event, but that the player was injured during the game and that "it's not anyone's fault".
Miami International also said, "If fans are willing to accept Miami International Club again, Miami International will be eager to return to beautiful Hong Kong in the future." ”
On the 6th local time, Major League Soccer Miami International Team held a press conference in Japan, and Messi attended. According to the Reuters live video, Messi talked about his absence from the previous trip to Hong Kong at the press conference, he said that he regretted it, and said that he would like to play in the trip to Hong Kong and hope to have the opportunity to play in Hong Kong in the future.
On the evening of the 4th, the Hong Kong SAR government issued two statements expressing "extreme disappointment", and the Hong Kong Legislative Council member of the sports, performing arts, culture and publishing sectors Fok Qigang also asked the organizers and the Miami International team to apologize and explain to the Hong Kong public. On the 6th, Huo Qigang responded again on social media platforms, saying that the careful arrangements we prepared for the arrival of the team were trampled on, which is regrettable.
Source: @中新体育, Huanqiu.com, Weibo