inter miami

Goncalves urges Hong Kong football chiefs to invite English Premier League, La Liga giants for tours to raise standards

Centre-back Goncalves is approaching his 10-year anniversary as a Kitchee player, a landmark that traditionally earns European footballers a testimonial. Goncalves says more investment in Hong Kong football would entice quality foreigners. Photo: Getty Images The 38-year-old would hand-pick either Juventus or Santos, the Brazilian club where he began his career, as opponents for such …

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Messi set for stateside Argentina friendlies, world champions fill gap left by Chinese call-offs after Hong Kong fiasco

The Argentine Football Association [AFA] has confirmed its world champion national team will play two friendly matches in the USA next month, after a pair of fixtures in China were axed following Lionel Messi’s ill-starred visit to Hong Kong. The breadth and scale of the backlash against Messi, following his non-participation when Inter Miami faced …

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From Lionel Messi fiasco to penalty shoot-out agony for Hong Kong – but key stars skip Guangzhou tie

A makeshift Hong Kong team suffered penalty shoot-out disappointment against a Guangdong XI last night, after their two-goal first-leg advantage was wiped out inside 67 minutes at a sodden Yuexiushan Stadium in Guangzhou. Guangdong scored all four of their kicks, following a 3-1 victory on the night, and finished with a flourish when Liao Junjian …

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Lionel Messi distraction is over for Hong Kong’s footballers as they return to action in Guangzhou – with player flown in from UK

Defender Tsang moved to England to study straight after his stellar contribution to the under-23s’ run to the Asiad semi-finals in Hangzhou. Tsang graduated through the youth academy at Hong Kong Premier League champions Kitchee. Photo: Kitchee Tsang admitted any temptation to stay was trumped by the need to be “realistic” over his prospects of …

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Lionel Messi fiasco dubbed ‘diplomatic crisis’, worse than crypto scam as Hong Kong moves through stages of social media grief

From Lionel Messi’s portrayal as a national security threat to fans suggesting his no-show was a bigger scam than JPEX crypto, there was hyperbole and sarcasm on social media as Hongkongers tried to put Inter Miami’s visit into perspective. With the US club moving on to Tokyo, the flak continued to fly in their previous …

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Lionel Messi ‘doesn’t care about Hong Kong’ and Xinjiang fan’s 12-hour trek – Chinese social media blasts Inter Miami fiasco

Furious football fans on Monday vented their anger at Lionel Messi’s no-show at an exhibition game in Hong Kong, with some saying he disrespected the city, while others shared stories of 12-hour flights and thousands of dollars down the drain. On Sunday, to audible dismay at Hong Kong Stadium, Messi, regarded as one of the …

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