HONG KONG — Organisers of a football match in Hong Kong are now facing backlash from both angry fans and the government after Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi didn’t play in the game.

According to The Associated Press, the much-hyped exhibition match on Sunday ended with fans booing Inter Miami’s co-owner David Beckham, demanding refunds as Messi stayed on the bench for the full 90 minutes in the game against a local team due to a hamstring strain.

AP News reports that organisers revealed on Monday that they had only been informed during halftime that Lionel Messi would not be playing and that they would withdraw an application for funding from the city government for staging the match.

According to the news report, Michel Lamunière, chairman of organiser Tatler Asia, said that its contract with Inter Miami required Messi and some other football stars in the team to play unless they were injured.

Lamunière said Messi was named as a substitute in the list of footballers available to come off the bench, but the club’s management later told the organiser that Messi was not fit to play due to an injury. Former Barcelona striker Luis Suarez also did not play in the game. AP News said Lamunière indicated his team had spent the second half of the match urging the club’s leadership to ask Messi to address the fans but “to no avail.”

Tickets for the game reportedly cost up to 4,880 Hong Kong dollars (US$624) each, and the government had previously approved an application from the organisers for 16 million Hong Kong dollars (US$2 million) in funding. AP News said that money had yet to be paid out and the request will now be withdrawn.

In a press briefing earlier Monday, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung said the government’s funding agreement with Tatler Asia required Messi to play for at least 45 minutes unless there were safety or health concerns.

Inter Miami will conclude its Asian tour in Japan on Wednesday when it plays Vissel Kobe.