David Beckham is BOOED and 40,000 angry fans chant 'refund' after Lionel Messi was left on the bench during Inter Miami's pre-season win over a Hong Kong XI
- Fans in Hong Kong were furious after being denied the chance to watch Messi
- The Argentine was injured and stayed on the benched throughout the game
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Furious fans in Hong Kong booed David Beckham and demanded a refund after paying for tickets to watch Lionel Messi, only for the Inter Miami star to stay on the bench.
Beckham, the president and co-owner of the American soccer franchise, greeted the 40,000 strong crowd after the game and thanked them for their 'incredible welcome' following Inter Miami's 4-1 win over a Hong Kong XI.
But the Manchester United and England legend was roundly booed during his speech after fans paid as much as $460 for a glimpse of Messi in action.
There was always a chance he would not feature due to injury but fans snapped up all 40,000 tickets at Hong Kong Stadium within an hour when they went on sale in December.
It was reportedly made clear to fans when they purchased tickets that there would be no refunds issued if Messi didn't play.
![David Beckham was booed by fans in Hong Kong after Lionel Messi didn't play for Inter Miami](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/04/13/80829013-13043635-image-a-4_1707051923712.jpg)
David Beckham was booed by fans in Hong Kong after Lionel Messi didn't play for Inter Miami
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/04/13/80829171-13043635-image-a-15_1707052751110.jpg)
A tight hamstring kept the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner on the sidelines with Luis Suarez
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Fans had paid huge sums to watch Messi in action but they were denied the chance on Sunday
![A cardboard cutout of Messi's head was kicked off a billboard for the game around the stadium](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/04/13/80829443-13043635-image-a-25_1707054188477.jpg)
A cardboard cutout of Messi's head was kicked off a billboard for the game around the stadium
A tight hamstring kept the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner on the sidelines in Hong Kong along with Uruguayan forward and former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez.
Messi played the final seven minutes of their defeat to Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia on Thursday after reports emerged before the game that he'd been for a MRI scan on a suspected injury.
Despite that, Messi had been heavily advertised both when tickets went on sale and in the build up to the game and when tickets went on sale.
There were chants of 'we want Messi' midway through the second half but he just watched on from the bench.
![Messi and teammate Luis Suarez walk across the pitch after not playing a single second](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/04/13/80829467-13043635-image-a-29_1707054248941.jpg)
Messi and teammate Luis Suarez walk across the pitch after not playing a single second
One fan admitted she 'felt like a fool' after her partner paid $280 each for them to be in attendance.
'I've been waiting almost ten years to see him,' Total Ling Pak-to said. 'This is a rare opportunity to see him, because he might be retiring soon. We are very disappointed.'
One fan, who paid $200 for his ticket, even flew in from Melbourne to catch a glimpse of Messi.
'I flew from Melbourne for this,' said Marco Hu Kim-ming. 'We waited a long time but he never showed up. I'm really disappointed.'
Another fan, who forked out $460, was also furious. Antony Osazee said: 'I came for the training and just saw him doing stretches. Messi isn't a supermodel. People don't pay just to watch him sit.'
The Hong Kong government has even issued a statement, vowing to take 'actions' against the organizers of the game after providing grants worth $2m for the game to take place.
It read: 'Regarding Messi not playing the match day, the Government, as well as all football fans, are extremely disappointed about the organizer's arrangement.
'The organizer owes all football fans an explanation. The Major Sports Events Committee will take follow-up action with the organizer according to the terms and conditions, which includes reducing the amount of funding as a result of Messi not playing the match.'
![Local fans couldn't hide their frustration after paying as much as $460 to watch Messi play](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/04/13/80829207-13043635-image-a-18_1707053067728.jpg)
Local fans couldn't hide their frustration after paying as much as $460 to watch Messi play
![Despite Messi's absence, Inter Miami won the game 4-1 and lifted a trophy on the pitch](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/04/13/80829471-13043635-image-a-27_1707054241823.jpg)
Despite Messi's absence, Inter Miami won the game 4-1 and lifted a trophy on the pitch
![Messi took part in training the day before, despite suffering a hamstring issue in Saudi Arabia](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/04/13/80829213-13043635-image-a-17_1707053061651.jpg)
Messi took part in training the day before, despite suffering a hamstring issue in Saudi Arabia
The fans who filled the same arena a day earlier at least saw the 2022 World Cup winner in an open training session along Beckham.
Speaking on the pitch after the game, Beckham said: 'On behalf of everybody involved in Inter Miami, our club, I would like to say thank you very much for the incredible welcome.
'We have always loved... I have always loved Hong Kong. Thank you very much for the incredible welcome. And we look forward to coming back one day to entertain you even more.
'Thank you to the media. Thank you for everyone in the stadium that has turned up tonight and been here for us.
'It means a lot because to see these great players play inspires a lot of young children in this country and around the world. I hope one day we will be back to entertain you. Hong Kong, thank you very much. I will see you soon. Thank you.'
Despite Messi's absence, Inter Miami produced a better performance after a 6-0 thrashing by Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr in Riyadh on Thursday.
Robert Taylor opened the scoring for Miami five minutes before the break with a curling shot from the corner of the area.
Henri Anier quickly leveled for the hosts, led by national team coach Jorn Andersen.
Lawson Sunderland restored Miami's lead early in the second half and then, after 56 minutes, provided the assist for Leonardo Campana, who made it 3-1. Ryan Sailor headed a fourth five minutes from the end.
Miami finishes its Asian tour in Japan on Wednesday as it takes on Vissel Kobe.
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