Hong Kong is demanding an explanation as to why Messi missed match this week. Inter Miami is one of the most popular franchises in Major League Soccer. The reason is simple; Lionel Messi. Inter Miami is gearing up for another MLS Season, the first full season with Messi in Miami. Part of that is a preseason tour that takes Inter to the Middle East and Asia. This is something that the world's largest clubs do regularly, take their preseason on a tour of the globe. On Sunday Inter Miami took on Hong Kong League XI, a sort of All-Star team. Messi was held out of the game with hip discomfort, although an MRI found no injury. And now the government of Hong Kong are demanding and explanation for Messi missing the game.
Hong Kong
The reason officials in Hong Kong are perturbed is because Messi laced up his boots just three days later in Japan. Specifically Hong Kong's Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau is demanding answers via a statement. "However three days later, Messi was able to play actively and freely in Japan," the statement read. "The government hopes the organizers and teams can provide reasonable explanations." Messi stated at an appearance in Japan that he truly was injured and hopes he can play in Hong Kong again. That didn't stop China's state-controlled Global Times from speculating and even bringing into question the integrity of Inter Miami and Messi himself.
It's Preseason
Ticket prices for the preseason friendly were not cheap, going for up to $640 per ticket with over 40,000 tickets sold. Chinese officials need to realize that this is a PRESEASON GAME. For them to think that any athlete would play through an injury in preseason is absurd. Let alone an established player like Messi who is at the end of his career. They can cry all they want. But if they want Messi, Inter Miami, the MLS, and other teams to go to China for preseason, they can't act like babies when an injury occurs. Could you image how they would react to "load management" in the NBA?
