Messi fans who agree to forego legal complaints to get 50% ticket refund for Hong Kong no-show by May, organiser says – Technologist

Disappointed fans who hoped to watch Lionel Messi in action only for the Argentine football star to sit out the entire game in Hong Kong last month will get a 50 per cent refund on tickets by May if they agree to not pursue any further legal complaints, the event’s organiser has announced.

Tatler Asia said on Monday those who bought tickets for the February 4 match between Inter Miami CF and Hong Kong League XI through official channels would receive emails the same day detailing how to claim the refund.

The announcement aims to bring closure for tens of thousands of angered and frustrated Messi fans, some of whom paid as much as HK$4,880 (US$624) per ticket.

Fans who bought their tickets through official platform Klook would have until April 12 to respond to the email and accept the terms and conditions for the refund, Tatler Asia said.

The organiser said refunds would be processed within 30 days after the deadline, adding the actual date for receiving the money could differ depending on the recipient’s bank policies.

Customers who bought tickets through Tatler Asia, as well as the other event sponsors and partners, would be contacted by account managers directly, it said.

According to the terms and conditions included in the announcement, those who already initiated claims, complaints or payment reversals with Klook will not be able to receive the refund unless they abandon them.

No politics involved, Lionel Messi says in defence of Hong Kong no-show

Customers seeking a refund also have to agree to not pursue any further legal complaints and waive all past and future claims.

The widely hyped match sparked public fury across the country after Messi, who was heavily featured in the match’s promotion, remained on the bench the entire match due to a thigh muscle discomfort.

Fans, many of whom travelled to the city from the mainland, Australia and elsewhere, were further infuriated when Messi returned to action just a few days later with his Inter Miami CF team in Japan.

Amid criticism by the public and government officials over the fiasco, Tatler Asia eventually agreed to distribute refunds to ticket-buyers and withdraw its application for HK$16 million in taxpayer dollars for putting on the event.

The row also launched a review of how funds were distributed to private organisations under the government’s M Mark system, a designation for key sporting events that qualifies organisers for millions of dollars in public cash.

Messi later sought to tamp down outrage over the event, saying allegations that political factors were involved were unfounded and that he hoped to meet his Chinese fans in person again.

In an unaudited breakdown of the finances behind the club’s visit, Tatler Asia showed the refund would end up costing the company its entire projected profit for the event, plus another HK$43 million (US$5.6 million).