Messi fines the American League 300,000 euros

The Major League Soccer League and Vancouver Whitecaps will pay 300,000 euros in compensation, due to the absence of Lionel Messi in May 2024.

In a move to contain the repercussions of the absence of Argentine star Lionel Messi from a match that was eagerly awaited by fans in May 2024, the American League and Vancouver FC announced that they had reached a settlement requiring the payment of 300,000 euros in compensation in the wake of that incident.

The match, which was scheduled to witness Messi’s participation in the Inter Miami shirt, received extensive marketing and media momentum, as major promotional campaigns were held that focused on the presence of the star crowned winner of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

However, his sudden absence for technical or physical reasons sparked a wave of criticism and widespread disappointment among the fans who came specifically to watch him.

According to the French newspaper L’Equipe, the amount of 300,000 euros came as compensation related to the regulatory and commercial obligations surrounding the match, in light of the record public turnout and ticket prices that were affected by the expected presence of the Argentine star.

She said: “The move aims to absorb the anger of the fans and preserve the image of the league, which has witnessed a huge surge in global interest since Messi moved to the ranks of Inter Miami.”

She continued: “Since the arrival of the best player in the world eight times to the American League, viewership rates, sales, and interest from sponsors have risen in an unprecedented manner. Therefore, any absence of him in matches of a large audience nature is directly reflected in the marketing value of the event.”

The newspaper continued that the case has reopened the debate on how to manage public expectations in matches whose marketing is based primarily on the participation of a specific star.

The French newspaper stressed that in the end, the American League seeks, through this compensation, to protect its relationship with fans and commercial partners, and to ensure the continuation of the momentum created by Messi’s influence in American football.