DAVID BECKHAM was booed by 40,000 angry supporters who demanded a refund.
The former England captain, 48, is in Hong Kong for Inter Miami’s pre-season tour in the Far East.
Lionel Messi remained on the bench during Inter Miami’s friendly victory in Hong Kong. David Beckham’s statement was drowned out by boosFans had spent hundreds of pounds on tickets.
The 40,000 seats were snatched up within an hour of going on sale.
Locals, who had paid up to £360 for tickets, were outraged that Lionel Messi remained an unused replacement.
The 36-year-old Argentine great has been suffering a hamstring ailment, which limited him to seven minutes in Thursday’s 6-0 loss against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
And the World Cup victor, who had participated in a very mild open training session, was not risked against a Hong Kong XI.
But that didn’t sit well with the die-hard fans who were keen to see the football GOAT.
During the second half, fans chanted “we want Messi” as Inter Miami won 4-1.
Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba came off the bench, but Messi and Luis Suarez watched from the sidelines.
The fans, who were promised there would be no refunds if Messi did not appear, drowned out Beckham’s address to the audience with their rage.
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Beckham remarked on the pitch after the game: “On behalf of everyone involved with Inter Miami, our club, I’d want to thank you very much for the fantastic welcome.
“I’ve always enjoyed Hong Kong, and we hope to return one day to delight you even more.
“Thank you, media. Thank you to everyone in the stadium that showed up tonight and supported us.
“It means a lot because watching these great players play motivates many young people in this country and around the world.
“I hope we can amuse you again sometime. Hong Kong, thank you very lot. I’ll see you shortly. “Thank you.”
‘MESSI IS NOT A SUPERMODEL.’
But many people were still upset afterwards, especially after paying hundreds of pounds on tickets and even coming from overseas.
According to the Daily Mail, one person stated, “I’ve been longing to see him for almost ten years. This is a unique opportunity to see him, as he may be retiring soon. “We are extremely disappointed.”
Another said, “I flew from Melbourne for this. We waited a long time, but he never arrived. “I’m very disappointed.”
And a third complained, “I came for the workout and only observed him performing stretches. Messi is not a supermodel. People do not pay to watch him sit.
Inter Miami’s Asian tour concludes on Wednesday against Vissel Kobe, followed by a final friendly against Messi’s boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys.
The Florida team begins their 2024 MLS season at home against Real Salt Lake, and then Beckham travels to face his previous team, the LA Galaxy.
Supporters were not scared to express their dissatisfaction. Lionel Messi’s head was taken from advertisements at the stadium. Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets came in, but Luis Suarez did not play. Inter Miami won 4-1.
