Tatler Asia says it will partially refund Hong Kong tickets after Lionel Messi backlash

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Tatler Asia said it would partially refund money to ticket holders of a friendly match between a Hong Kong team and Inter Miami, after Lionel Messi’s failure to play over an injury prompted a furious backlash from fans, the Hong Kong government and Chinese state media.

The luxury lifestyle publication, which organised the fixture, said the 50 per cent refunds would cost up to HK$56mn ($7mn). It estimated it would lose as much as HK$43mn on the event. The company had anticipated making a profit of HK$13mn.

Tatler Asia, which was purchased by Swiss family business Edipresse two decades ago, said it was “heartbroken” by Messi sitting out the game and that it had “pleaded” with Inter Miami to urge the Argentine star to explain to spectators why he could not play. The fact that Messi played days later in Tokyo “feels like another slap in the face”, it said.

“We put our blood and sweat into bringing a world-class football match to Hong Kong and we were let down along with all of you,” it said. A spokesperson for the Tatler Asia Inter Miami event said the publication had no connection to Tatler UK.

The announcement followed a public and official backlash in Hong Kong, with officials and lawmakers criticising the event after Messi did not play. Pictures of the Argentine footballer had been central to the event’s marketing materials, which occupied prominent city-centre billboards for weeks, and fans had paid up to HK$4,880 a ticket.

The government had hoped that the high-profile event would boost its international image and economic fortunes. Decisions by pop superstars Taylor Swift and Coldplay to skip Hong Kong in favour of rival Asian destinations such as Tokyo and Singapore have become a sore point. Last month, before the Inter Miami game, lawmakers were debating how to bring high-profile stars back to the city in the…