David Beckham is BOOED and 40,000 angry fans chant ‘refund’ after Lionel Messi was left on the bench during Inter Miami’s pre-season win over a Hong Kong XI

Furious fans in Hong Kong booed David Beckham and demanded a refund after paying for tickets to watch Lionel Messi, only for the Inter Miami star to stay on the bench.

Beckham, the president and co-owner of the American soccer franchise, greeted the 40,000 strong crowd after the game and thanked them for their ‘incredible welcome’.

But the Manchester United and England was roundly booed during his speech after fans paid as much as $300 (£240) for a glimpse of Mess in action.

There was always the chance he would not feature but fans snapped up all 40,000 tickets at Hong Kong Stadium within an hour when they went on sale in December.

It was reportedly made clear to fans when they purchased tickets that there would be no refunds issued if Messi didn’t play. 

A tight hamstring kept the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner on the sidelines with Luis Suarez

Fans had paid huge sums to watch Messi in action but they were denied the chance on Sunday

A tight hamstring kept the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner on the sidelines in Hong Kong along with Uruguayan forward and former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez.

Messi played the final seven minutes of their defeat to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr team in Saudi Arabia on Thursday after reports emerged before the game that he’d been for a MRI scan on a suspected injury. 

Messi was advertised in the build up to the game and when tickets went on sale. 

One fan admitted she ‘felt like a fool’ after her partner paid $280 each for them to go to the game.

‘I’ve been waiting almost ten years to see him,’ Total Ling Pak-to said. ‘This is a rare opportunity to see him, because he might be retiring soon. We are very disappointed.’

Another fan, who forked out $460, was also furious. Antony Osazee said: ‘I came for the training and just saw him doing stretches. Messi isn’t a supermodel. People don’t pay just to watch him sit.’

Local fans couldn’t hide their frustration after paying as much as $460 to watch Messi play 

Messi took part in training the day before, despite suffering a hamstring issue in Saudi Arabia 

The fans who filled the same arena a day earlier at least saw the 2022 World Cup winner in an open training session along with Miami co-owner David Beckham.

Despite Messi’s absence, Inter Miami produced a better performance after a 6-0 thrashing by Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr in Riyadh on Thursday.

Robert Taylor opened the scoring for Miami five minutes before the break with a curling shot from the corner of the area.

Henri Anier quickly leveled for the hosts, led by national team coach Jorn Andersen.

Lawson Sunderland restored Miami’s lead early in the second half and then, after 56 minutes, provided the assist for Leonardo Campana, who made it 3-1. 

Ryan Sailor headed a fourth five minutes from the end. Miami finishes its Asian tour in Japan on Wednesday as it takes on Vissel Kobe.

More to follow.