Hong Kong fans and government upset Messi didn’t play
Listen to the story (Filipino accent)
Soccer fans in Hong Kong were disappointed when Lionel Messi didn’t play in his team’s preseason friendly game.
The stadium was filled with 40,000 fans who wanted to see Messi. Some of them paid as much as $624 for tickets to watch the winner of eight Ballon d’Or awards and the World Cup play in the match. However, Messi stayed on the bench during Inter Miami’s 4-1 win against Hong Kong’s all-star team.
Many fans asked for their money back because Messi did not play. The Hong Kong government, which gave more than $2 million to the match organizer, was also upset. The contract between the government and the match organizer required Messi to play for at least 45 minutes.
When it was clear that Messi would not play, the government asked the organizer for Messi to interact with fans or receive a trophy, but this did not happen. The coach of Miami said they decided not to play Messi at the last minute because of an injury.
Fans were excited when Inter Miami arrived in Hong Kong on Friday. The stadium was full during Inter Miami’s training session the night before the match. On Monday, some fans waited outside Inter Miami’s hotel in Hong Kong. They hoped to see Messi before the team left for Tokyo.
One fan, Ada Kam, told CNN that she felt cheated because she paid to see Messi play. The match organizer, Tatler XFEST, said that it was very disappointed that Messi and teammate Luis Suárez did not play.
Vocabulary23 words
- Fan
- a person who likes a sport, team, or celebrity; supporter; follower
- Disappointed
- sad; let down; upset; unhappy; not pleased
- Preseason
- The time before the main part of a sports season begins, where teams practice and play games to get ready
- Friendly game
- A game that is played for fun, not as part of a competition; not played during the league season or in a tournament
- Stadium
- a large sports arena/building where games and events are held, usually with many seats for spectators ?️
- Match
- A match is a game or contest between two teams or individuals where they try to win by playing a sport
- Bench
- The place where players sit when they are not playing in the game;
- All-star team
- A team made up of the best players from different teams
- Money back
- When you get your money/payment returned to you; refund
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Million
- 1,000,000 = one-million
- Organizer
- a person or group that organizes an event or meeting
- Upset
- Feeling sad, angry, or disappointed about something
- Contract
- an agreement between two or more people or organizations; an agreement to perform or complete a job
- Required
- necessary; have to; obligatory; mandatory; needed
- Interact
- When you talk to or do something with another person; To communicate or spend time with others
- Trophy
- A prize given to the winner of a game or competition; ?
- Coach
- manager; the boss of a team
- Last minute
- very close to the time something needs to be done; At the very end; no extra time; suddenly
- Injury
- wound; damage to the body; broken body part
- Training session
- A time when athletes/players practice and prepare for their games
- Cheated
- Being treated unfairly or dishonestly; tricked; deceived; robbed; mistreated
- Teammate
- a member of the same team in a sport; a person on the same team
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Soccer _____ in Hong Kong were disappointed when Lionel Messi didn’t _____ in his team’s preseason friendly game.
The stadium was filled with _____ fans who wanted to see Messi. Some of them paid as much as $_____ for tickets to watch the winner of eight Ballon d’Or _____ and the World Cup play in the match. However, Messi _____ on the bench during Inter Miami’s 4-1 win _____ Hong Kong’s all-star team.
Many fans asked for their money _____ because Messi did not play. The Hong Kong _____, which gave more than $2 million to the _____ organizer, was also upset. The contract between the government and the match organizer _____ Messi to play for at least 45 minutes.
When it was _____ that Messi would not play, the government asked the organizer for Messi to _____ with fans or receive a trophy, but this did not _____. The coach of Miami said they decided not to play Messi at the last minute _____ of an injury.
Fans were excited when Inter Miami _____ in Hong Kong on Friday. The stadium was full _____ Inter Miami’s training session the night before the match. On Monday, some fans waited _____ Inter Miami’s hotel in Hong Kong. They hoped to see Messi before the team _____ for Tokyo.
One fan, Ada Kam, told CNN that she _____ cheated because she paid to see Messi play. The match _____, Tatler XFEST, said that it was very disappointed that Messi and _____ Luis Suárez did not play.
Discussion questions
- What were the fans' reactions when Messi didn't play? How would you feel if you were one of those fans? Do you think it's fair for fans to ask for their money back?
- Why do you think the Hong Kong government gave money to the match organizer? Was it a good decision?
- If you were Messi, how would you have reacted to the government's request to interact with fans or receive a trophy even if you didn't play?
- What could the match organizer, Tatler XFEST, have done differently to avoid disappointing fans and the government?
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