Argentina are also scheduled to play against the Ivory Coast in Beijing as part of the same trip. While Messi could have been involved, his Inter Miami side are scheduled to play a Major League Soccer match on March 23 against New York Red Bulls, and there was no guarantee he would make the trip.

Tatler Asia said fans would be given a 50 per cent refund on tickets for the game in Hong Kong. In a statement released after it reportedly met government officials in the morning, the media company said details of the refund would be released before mid-March but it would only apply to tickets bought through official channels.

The organiser also apologised to all the fans who were left disappointed by the episode, which it said it had hoped would “become the pride of Hong Kong”.

“We will not evade our responsibilities as an organiser, so Tatler Asia will provide a 50 per cent refund to the public who purchased match day tickets through official channels,” it said.

Authorities said they welcomed the arrangement.

“The government welcomes the relevant decision and believes that the compensation plan of the organiser Tatler Asia is a responsible approach and shows its positive and responsible attitude,” it said.

“According to the relevant game accounts disclosed by the organiser … Tatler Asia has made its best efforts and [shown] sincerity [by arranging] a refund of 50 per cent of the ticket price in response to the demands of all sectors of society.”

But authorities said they understood the public still had “many questions” regarding Messi’s absence on the pitch in Hong Kong, especially since the player became “active and conducted intense exercise” just three days later in Japan.

“The government hopes that Inter Miami CF will eventually provide a reasonable explanation to Hong Kong people, and the fans who came to Hong Kong to watch the game.”

Tatler Asia has been under increasing pressure to account for the absence of the World Cup winner, and Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez, from last weekend’s game. In the lengthy statement, it said it was “just as heartbroken as everyone else” over the fact the pair missed the game.

As of Friday 5pm, the city’s consumer watchdog logged 1,358 complaints linked to ticket sales for the match, including 274 from tourists. Claims have snowballed to about HK$9.4 million (US$1.2 million).

The Consumer Council said the refund offer was the best arrangement achieved following the efforts of the various parties involved. It reminded the spectators to keep their tickets, receipts or other related proofs for the refund.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said the organiser’s decision to return half the funds was practical in the current situation.

“The Consumer Council, which has been handling many complaint cases, also feels this was the best option given the various factors,” he said.

As for calls by some, including Executive Council convenor and lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, that Messi should be barred from entering Hong Kong again, Yeung only said there were well-established immigration policies and the city continued to welcome “all people” for tourism, business and other activities.

Exco member Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung also described the compensation plan as an “acceptable” response to the public’s demands. But he added that Inter Miami still needed to provide a reasonable explanation and make a sincere apology as soon as possible, to “bring the matter to an end”.

Highlighting that it had “invested millions of dollars and put in months of hard work” to bring the team to Hong Kong, Tatler Asia said seeing them play in Japan “made us feel like we were slapped again”.

Besides releasing the statement, the company also provided an unaudited breakdown of the finances involved in the team’s visit, which showed that the refund would end up costing the firm its entire projected profit, plus another HK$43 million.

It made HK$156.9 million from ticket sales, merchandising, sponsorship and advertising, but spent HK$143.9 million on appearance fees, renting the stadium, accommodation and travel, and various other associated expenses.

The net income of HK$13 million translated to an 8 per cent profit margin, but refunds were projected to cost HK$56 million.

Sources previously told the Post that Tatler Asia had paid Inter Miami almost US$7 million to make the trip.

On Thursday, lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-piu delivered an ultimatum outside the Small Claims Tribunal in West Kowloon, saying that more than a dozen people were ready to file their claims if Tatler Asia did not explain within a week why Messi stayed on the bench and offer refunds to those who paid more than HK$3,000 each for tickets.

Tang on Friday told the Post that after a refund was promised, more than 40 people who had approached him for help were happy to accept the deal and dropped the idea of pursuing the claims.

“It was unexpected that Tatler would work out a response so quickly, and it is a solution that everyone accepts,” he said.

Disappointment over the game has prompted a review of authorities’ system that offers organisers of large-scale sports events extra funding and logistics support.

Sports minister Yeung also said the government had never seen the details of the contract between the organiser and Inter Miami, despite an understanding that Messi would play for 45 minutes unless he was injured.

More than 40,000 fans paid HK$880 to HK$4,880 for tickets to the match. Some online comments mocked the refund offer, with some saying the company only acted because of government and public pressure.

“If you don’t offer a refund, don’t think about organising any other activities in Hong Kong,” one person wrote.

03:03

Lionel Messi plays in Japan 3 days after sitting out Hong Kong game, adding fuel to fans’ anger

Lionel Messi plays in Japan 3 days after sitting out Hong Kong game, adding fuel to fans’ anger

Hongkonger Alex Fung, a diehard Messi fan since his debut about two decades ago, said he was “indifferent” about the refund after he was left disappointed by the game.

“I do not need any compensation from the organiser,” he said.

“The bigger question here is whether an agreement about Messi playing was made between Tatler and Inter Miami,” he said. “As a consumer I would like to know the answer more than having my money back.”

Fung’s sentiment was also shared by Sam Lau, who spent about HK$6,000, including HK$2,280 on a ticket plus a night of accommodation at the hotel where Inter Miami stayed.

Lau said that although it was “fair” for Tatler Asia to finally respond to consumers’ demands, getting the money back would not make up for her loss of faith in the star, as well as in the organiser.

Mainland Chinese posting on social media platform Xiaohongshu expressed sympathy for the organiser, but fury towards Messi remained high.

“The organiser is quite unlucky, but what about an apology from Inter Miami and Messi himself?” one person asked.

Mainlanders also mocked an apology posted on the football star’s Weibo account on Wednesday, which showed it had been submitted from Sichuan province, raising questions about whether Messi had been involved in writing the statement.

“Don’t take the blame for Sichuan Messi, who didn’t even know he issued an apology!” one person wrote.

Additional reporting by Olga Wong