Lionel Messi, the renowned footballer, was unable to participate in an Inter Miami match in Hong Kong due to an injury.
This absence sparked anger among Chinese football fans who had been eagerly anticipating seeing him play.
Chinese Fans Taunt Messi over Falklands Dispute
The fans, feeling cheated out of watching Messi in action, resorted to taunting him over the Falklands dispute between Britain and Argentina.
They took to social media to call him a “thief” and stirred up the historical conflict, referencing Argentina’s invasion of the British-owned Falkland Islands in 1982.
Social Media Trolling and Insults
On platforms like Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, users posted messages asserting that the Falklands rightfully belong to the United Kingdom.
They derided Messi, claiming that all his Ballon d’Or awards were stolen and that the Falklands are and always will be British territory.
Beckham Also Targeted by Fans
Inter Miami president David Beckham was also targeted by the angry fans, who booed him during the match.
The fans felt deceived by the team for not being able to watch Messi play.
Organizer Offers Apology and Refunds
In response to the backlash, the match organizer, Tatler, offered fans a 50% refund as an apology for Messi’s absence.
Despite the efforts to appease the fans, tensions remained high over the incident.
Background on Falklands Dispute
The Falklands, a British territory, has been a point of contention between Britain and Argentina for centuries.
The British first claimed ownership in 1690 and has maintained sovereignty since 1833, except for a brief period when Argentina briefly took control.
Argentina attempted to reclaim the islands in 1982, leading to the Falklands War, which resulted in casualties on both sides.
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