Hong Kong v Inter Miami

Here is the rewritten encyclopedia entry: The friendly football match between Hong Kong League XI and Inter Miami CF, held at Hong Kong Stadium on 4 February 2024, was part of the Tatler XFEST Hong Kong event. Inter Miami won 4–1, but the absence of star player Lionel Messi sparked significant backlash from ticket buyers and government officials. The controversy, dubbed the Messi Mess (Chinese: 美斯之亂; lit. 'The Messi Controversy'), damaged the event's goal of showcasing Hong Kong's ability to host major international fixtures. Organizer Tatler Asia, a lifestyle magazine with no background in sports events, was criticized for misleading the public about Messi's expected participation both before and after the match. The company eventually offered a half-refund on the record-high ticket prices. Messi and Inter Miami cited a medical assessment as the reason for his non-participation, while some commentators, state-controlled media, and Chinese government officials accused Messi of harboring anti-China sentiment. After Hong Kong lifted all pandemic restrictions in early 2023, the city struggled to attract top-tier celebrities. Factors such as the 2020 national security law, slowing Chinese economic growth, and a slump in the local stock market were seen as diminishing Hong Kong's appeal. The government aimed to counter this by hosting world-class events to boost the economy and stimulate public spending. Pui Kwan-kay, President of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA), revealed in an interview that a friendly match for Inter Miami had originally been planned in Shanghai for November 2023, but was canceled due to permit delays. The Shanghai sports corporation had already paid a deposit, and with travel plans in place, intermediaries approached Pui about moving the match to Hong Kong. The rumored appearance fee was US$10 million, with Shanghai having paid US$3 million. Pui rejected the offer, calling the price "astronomical" and "unrealistic." He stated that the match was later made possible by the Hong Kong Government and rescheduled for 2024. Inter Miami announced in December 2023 that it would travel to Asia in February for its first international tour, including a match in Hong Kong on 4 February against the Hong Kong Team.