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In a friendly match between Inter Miami and Vissel Kobe at the Japan National Stadium, Lionel Messi found himself at the centre of controversy as his laughter following a missed penalty drew sharp criticism from fans.
Fans Demand Action After Messi's Response to Penalty Miss
After Vissel Kobe's Robert Taylor blazed a penalty over the bar during a shootout, Messi's reaction, along with teammates Jordi Alba and DeAndre Yedlin, raised eyebrows and ire among supporters.
Some fans went as far as labelling Messi a "disgusting leader" and calling for the termination of his contract as reported by the Sun.
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17:45 - 06.02.2024
Lionel Messi explains and apologises to angry Hong Kong fans after missing expensive friendly match
Lionel Messi has put out an apology to fans in Hong Kong who bought highly-priced tickets to watch him play in a friendly for Inter Miami.
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16:39 - 05.02.2024
Fan Fury in Hong Kong: Beckham Faces Backlash as Messi Warms Bench
David Beckham found himself at the centre of a storm as 40,000 fans voiced their displeasure during Inter Miami's pre-season match in Hong Kong.
"His contract should be terminated ASAP. Ridiculous," remarked one fan, while another expressed disbelief, stating, "Such a disgusting guy man, how can he laugh?"
"My captain would NEVER," commented another, highlighting the disappointment and frustration felt by some supporters.
Inter Miami, currently on their pre-season tour in the Far East, faced backlash from fans last week when Messi was benched in a match against a Hong Kong XI. Owner David Beckham even faced boos from the crowd. Messi, 36, explained his absence, citing an injury.
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"Unfortunately in football things can happen in any game, that we may have an injury. It happened to me," Messi said. "I couldn't play in the Hong Kong match, and it was a shame because I always wanted to participate, I wanted to be there and even more so when it came to these matches."
Messi expressed his hope to return to the pitch soon, stating, "I hope we can return and we play another game and I can play as I do whenever I can."
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