8 Feb 2024Channel C#2958
被指光速批出「M品牌」 大型體育活動委員會：特事特辦
Inter Miami played an exhibition match against the Hong Kong team at Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday (4th). The absence of Argentine football star Lionel Messi, who had travelled to Hong Kong with the team, drew widespread dissatisfaction and criticism, and the controversy continued for several days. Organiser Tatler Asia subsequently said it would withdraw its applications to the government for 16 million in funding and the “M Mark”, but the move still failed to quell the controversy.
國際邁阿密周日（4日）在香港大球場與香港隊進行表演賽，隨隊來港的阿根廷球王美斯缺陣引來大量不滿及批評，風波持續數日不止。主辦方Tatler Asia及後表示將撤回向政府申請的1,600萬資助及「M品牌」，惟仍未能平息事件。
8 Feb 2024獨媒#2961
政界同仇敵愾「反駁」美斯 葉劉要求永久禁止入境
Messi was unable to play due to injury during his visit to Hong Kong, but came on as a substitute for 30 minutes in a friendly match in Japan yesterday, prompting Hong Kong politicians to unite in condemning him. The most forceful view so far came from New People’s Party chairwoman Regina Ip, who wrote on social media platform X that Hong Kong people hated Messi, claimed that a “hidden hand” had deliberately plotted against Hong Kong, and demanded that Messi never be allowed to enter Hong Kong again. Junius Ho continued his “wolf warrior” stance, saying, “A gentleman does not leave a grudge unavenged,” and further accused Messi of “insulting China”.
美斯在訪港期間因傷未能上陣，昨日卻在日本友賽後備上陣30分鐘，令香港政界「同仇敵愾」炮轟美斯。暫時「走得最前」的意見，要數新民黨主席葉劉淑儀，她在社交媒體X發文，稱港人痛恨美斯，指有「幕後黑手」有心計算香港，更要求永不允許美斯入境香港。何君堯就繼續「戰狼」，指「有仇不報，非君子也」，更指美斯「辱華」。
7 Feb 2024獨媒#2954
【美斯不出場】麥美娟：區議員可協助追討、為市民討回公道
Inter Miami visited Hong Kong, but football superstar Lionel Messi did not take the field. Some fans demanded a refund from organiser Tatler Asia, while some residents lodged complaints with the Consumer Council. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak said she believed district councillors could help residents seek redress from the organiser over the match: “I believe our district councillors will, as they do with other requests for assistance, help our residents handle the relevant procedures and seek justice for them.”
美職球隊國際邁阿密訪港，球王美斯未有上場，有球迷要求主辦單位Tatler Asia「回水」，亦有市民向消委會投訴。民政及青年事務局局長麥美娟表示，市民如欲就今次賽事向主辦單位作出追討，相信區議員可以作出協助：「我相信我哋嘅區議員亦都會好似處理其他嘅求助個案一樣，都係會協助我哋嘅市民呢，去處理相關程序呢，同埋為市民討回公道。」
6 Feb 2024獨媒#2945
【美斯不出場】李家超稱「極度失望」要求主辦方履行「社會責任」
MLS team Inter Miami came to Hong Kong for an exhibition match, which sparked widespread controversy after Messi ultimately did not take to the field. After organiser Tatler Asia withdrew its application for M Brand funding, officials felt that the burden on their shoulders had been greatly eased. Chief Executive John Lee, who attended the match, told reporters before this morning’s Executive Council meeting that he was extremely disappointed by Messi’s absence. He also criticised the organiser, saying that “not a single” arrangement in the remedial proposals requested by the government had been properly made. Asked whether the withdrawal of the government funding application would make it more difficult to follow up, Lee said the organiser also had a “social responsibility” and that the government would “urge” it to explain the details.
美職聯球隊國際邁阿密來港進行表演賽，最終因為美斯無落場而鬧出滿城風雨。隨著主辦方Tatler Asia撤回M品牌資助申請，官員有感膊上的擔子大大減磅。有份現場觀賽的行政長官李家超今早在行政會議前見記者，他只稱對美斯缺陣感到極度失望，又批評主辦方對政府要求的補救方案「無一個安排得上」。主辦方已撤回申請政府補助，是否再難跟進？李家超則稱主辦方亦有「社會責任」，政府會「敦促」交代詳情。
5 Feb 2024獨媒#2942
【美斯不出場】楊潤雄離身回應促Tatler多作交代：始終個球賽唔係政府搞
The international match between Inter Miami and Hong Kong League XI, originally billed as the first major event of the year in Hong Kong, was mocked as the “scam of the century” after Messi did not play. Organiser Tatler Asia yesterday withdrew its application for the “M Brand” and the HK$16 million funding, while its press conference did not allow questions. The HKSAR Government, which had heavily promoted the event as the year’s opening major event and whose officials had attended in succession, has gradually begun distancing itself. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung repeatedly stressed that communication was mainly between organiser Tatler Asia and Inter Miami, reiterating that “after all, the match was not organised by the government”. He said the government’s role was to help the event “take place”, while whether certain football stars would play was something “we really found it very difficult to make happen in advance”.
原為今年本港盛事頭炮的國際邁阿密對港聯，因為美斯沒有出場，事件被譏為世紀大騙局，主辦方Tatler Asia昨日只撤回「M品牌」申請及1,600萬資助，其記者會亦不設提問。在活動前大力宣傳為頭炮盛事、多名官員連番出席的特區政府，逐步開始離身回應。文化體育及旅遊局局長楊潤雄多次重申溝通主要由主辦方Tatler Asia與國際邁阿密進行，重申「始終個球賽唔係政府搞」，政府的角色是協助活動「辦得成」，某些球星是否落場「呢個我哋真係好難事先呢可以係做到」。
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
