The organiser of a much-hyped football match that intended to showcase Lionel Messi in Hong Kong said on Friday that it would offer a 50 per cent refund following days of backlash from angry fans and the government over the absence of the World Cup winner.

The grievances from Hong Kong fans, stemming from Messi staying on the bench for the full 90 minutes in the game against a local team due to a groin injury earlier this week, have spread to mainland China after the Argentina star put in a 30-minute game appearance in Tokyo in Inter Miami’s latest exhibition match in Asia on Wednesday.

Over the past two days, many social media users in mainland China expressed their disappointment over Messi’s no-show, with China’s state-run newspaper, the Global Times, publishing an editorial that said the impact of the controversy surrounding the football star “has far exceeded the realm of sports.”

In an Instagram post on Friday, local organiser Tatler Asia apologised to those who were disappointed by the match and said it was upset by “the seeming lack of respect shown to the crowd.”

It reiterated it had pleaded with Inter Miami’s management to urge Messi to explain to the spectators after it learned the football star, who was required to play for 45 minutes unless injured under their contract, would not be playing.

“He didn’t. The fact that Messi... played in Japan on February 7th feels like another slap in the face,” it said.

The organiser said it had been in talks with the government on how to resolve the issue and details of the refund arrangement would be announced by mid-March.

“We will not escape our responsibility as organisers and that is why Tatler Asia will offer all those who purchased match-day tickets from the official channels a 50 per cent refund,” it said.

In response to the announcement, the Hong Kong government welcomed the arrangement in a statement, calling it a responsible move.

But the government also said that Hong Kong society still has many questions over the incident, especially after seeing Messi playing actively in Japan, and hoped Inter Miami can provide a reasonable explanation to the public.

Inter Miami has not immediately responded.

On Wednesday night, the Global Times said in the editorial that the explanations from Messi and Inter Miami were not convincing and pointed to some speculations about the moves.

“One theory is that their actions have political motives, as Hong Kong intends to boost the economy through the event and external forces deliberately wanted to embarrass Hong Kong through this incident,” it said.

“Judging from the development of the situation, the possibility of this speculation cannot be ruled out.”

Pro-Beijing politicians in Hong Kong also weighed in. Regina Ip, a leading member of the executive council of Hong Kong’s cabinet, wrote on X: “Messi should never be allowed to return to Hong Kong. His lies and hypocrisy are disgusting.”