Push for refund a tough challenge

Spectators at the exhibition match should keep their tickets and receipts for potential compensation in the future, the Consumer Council said after it received at least 56 complaints.

Customs and Excise Department said it received 18 complaints and that it has set up a designated team to follow up on whether the event has contravened the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said the complaints will be investigated.

The consumer watchdog said among the complaints, 41 were made by locals and 15 by tourists, involving a total amount of HK$319,763. One of the complaints involved an amount of HK$22,338.

The council expressed sympathy toward fans.

"Even though the event did not clearly state or guarantee that certain players would definitely play in the match when selling tickets, there was no explanation that particular players might miss the match because of injuries," it said.

"On the contrary, most of the promotional materials were mainly photos of certain players, and the organizer's promotional publications had always stated the team would be led by particular players. It is reasonable for consumers to have expectations for those players to play in the exhibition match."

The watchdog called on the organizer to explain the details of the incident, including when it learned that the relevant players would not play, and whether other arrangements or compensation would be made to fans.

But demand for a refund might be a tall order, as lawyers said although the organizer stated they had invited Lionel Messi, the tickets were for a match between Inter Miami and a Hong Kong team, rather than a Messi match.

"Messi was present at the stadium so technically we cannot say that he was not involved," said solicitor Chan Pak-ho.

"The organizer had the right to change the player lineup at any time. Fans may not be able to use this as a basis to accuse the organizer of breach of contract."

Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung said it could be difficult for fans to get compensation because of the exemption clauses in the tickets.

In a similar incident in 2019, Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was advertised to play for 45 minutes in South Korea.

Instead he sat out the whole exhibition match between Juventus and a K-League All Star team, citing muscle fatigue.

Two fans later sued the organizer, The Fasta, for false advertisement, and asked for a refund.

Subsequently, the organizer had to pay 371,000 won (HK$2,177) each to the two fans. More than 100 fans gained refunds.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com