Cristiano Ronaldo's highly anticipated appearance in Hong Kong turned into a public relations disaster after the football superstar remained on the bench throughout a pre-season friendly, sparking outrage amongst 40,000 disappointed fans and triggering a formal demand for refunds.
The event organisers, Tatler Asia, have publicly blamed Al-Nassr's management for what they labelled a 'broken promise', claiming the Saudi club had contractually guaranteed Ronaldo would play for at least 45 minutes unless injured. The match against a Hong Kong League XI ended in a 4-1 victory for the visitors, but the scoreline was utterly overshadowed by the absence of its main attraction.
The Official Reason vs. The Backlash
Al-Nassr manager Luis Castro cited a muscle injury as the sole reason for Ronaldo's non-participation. "We're following the advice of the medical team," Castro stated in the post-match press conference, attempting to quell the growing discontent.
However, this explanation was met with fierce scepticism. The anger was palpable inside the Hong Kong Stadium, where boos rang out and chants of 'We want Ronaldo!' were eventually replaced by cries of 'Refund!'. The frustration was compounded as Ronaldo, despite his injury, was seen on the pitch after the final whistle, juggling the ball and interacting with a handful of lucky ball kids, a move that appeared to pour fuel on the fire.
An Apology and a Financial Fallout
In a move to control the escalating situation, Ronaldo himself addressed the media. "I'm sorry to the fans who came to watch. This is football, things happen that you cannot control," the Portuguese forward said, expressing his desire to return to Hong Kong in the future.
The financial implications are significant. Tatler Asia has announced it will withdraw its application for government funding from the 'M' Mark events scheme and offer a 50% refund to ticket holders, a gesture estimated to cost the company upwards of HK$56 million (£5.6 million). This decision comes after the Hong Kong government itself expressed 'extreme disappointment' with the event's outcome.
The incident has cast a shadow over Al-Nassr's pre-season tour and raises questions about the management of superstar players and the promises made to fans and host cities.
