In the midst of controversy over soccer star Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) not participating in a match in Hong Kong, Chinese authorities have announced regulations requiring game organizers to specify the participation status of star players before ticket sales.
According to China News Network and others, on the 23rd, the Chinese Football Association announced a revision of the Regulations on Preparation and Supervision of International Matches. The main points are to require the disclosure of major star players’ participation clauses (contractually) and the handling of contract violations before ticket sales.
Furthermore, the Chinese Football Association specified that in the case of international A-class matches not hosted by the Chinese Football Association; the organizer must work with the participating soccer teams, coordinate organizational and communication tasks only through match agents certified by FIFA, and register with the Chinese Football Association.
Also, the match organizer cannot perform ticketing or booking business before receiving approval from the international organization.
In Hong Kong, soccer fans protested last February when Messi did not participate in a match between his team, Inter Miami, and the Hong Kong Professional All-Star Team.
Messi’s participation for 30 minutes in a match in Japan just three days later further fueled the anger of Hong Kong fans.
Chinese state media even raised suspicions that there might be political intentions involving foreign intervention in this incident, and the Chinese authorities also canceled both matches of the Argentine soccer team that were scheduled to be held in their country.
As the situation got out of hand, Tatler, the organizer of the match in Hong Kong, announced that they would refund 50% of the ticket price.
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