Organizer told to bare more details

The administration only signed a contract with big-match organizer Tatler Asia and had no idea about an agreement between that firm and Inter Miami, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said yesterday.

Yeung said the administration's only participation in the event was signing a contract with Tatler Asia, which states that Lionel Messi must play on the pitch for at least 45 minutes unless because of safety and health concerns.

"However, the final playing time arrangement was discussed between organizer Tatler Asia and Inter Miami," he said. "I have asked Tatler Asia to provide an explanation about the incident."

The match was organized by the digital platform and magazine that features luxury lifestyles, which engaged in discussions with Inter Miami and invited the Hong Kong Football Association to join hands in organizing the event.

Just one day before Sunday's match Tatler Asia held a meeting session between Inter Miami players and fans who purchased its VIP package.

Costing HK$150,000 each, the package included VIP merchandise of the match, a ticket to Sunday's exhibition match and also meeting and taking photos with the stars in a 30-minute meeting.

Tatler Asia also organized an autograph session for the stars, which cost each attendee HK$120,000.

According to Tatler's social media Instagram, it rolled out a series of limited-edition merchandise for the event, and invited the daughter of retired actress Chingmy Yau Suk-zing, Ayla Sham Yuet, to be a merchandise model.

The merchandise was also limited to ticket holders to Sunday's match and Saturday's open training session.

Tatler Asia traces its history back to 1937, when Jacques Lamuniere became co-owner of a local daily newspaper in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, known as Swiss Romande.

In 1950 his son, Marc Lamuniere, a writer, musician and publisher of art books on top artists such as Pablo Picasso, took over the family business.

Under his leadership the group acquired a number of competitor publications to become the largest media company in Swiss Romande.

With a solid reputation and commendable portfolio of newspapers and weekly and monthly news and lifestyle titles, the group was publicly listed in 1960. It became Edipresse in 1982, and the Lamuniere family purchased the controlling stake and renamed the company as Tatler Asia.

The company publishes a range of magazines, including Tatler, Revolution, Appetite and Cotai Style, while its business also includes running a website and e-commerce.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com