MLS and Vancouver Whitecaps to pay €300,000 after Lionel Messi no-show in May 2024 | OneFootball

Major League Soccer and the Vancouver Whitecaps have agreed to make payments after Lionel Messi missed the club’s home match in May 2024, which had sold out amid elevated prices.

According to L'Équipe, the 26 May 2024 MLS game against Inter Miami ended 1-2, with tickets marketed heavily on the expected presence of Messi, plus Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets.

Two days before kick-off, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said the trio would not travel. The Whitecaps expressed regret and cut stadium food and drink prices by 50%, also offering free meals to under-18s.

The case, filed by a supporter, was settled out of court. MLS and Vancouver will distribute 347,000 dollars, about €300,000, to KidSport British Columbia, Canada SCORES and BGC South Coast BC, with a further 1,500 dollars, about €1,300, to the complainant’s representative.

The agreement also requires Vancouver to warn buyers on its website and on Ticketmaster that player participation cannot be guaranteed. A Canadian judge later called the deal fair and noted that the complainant, Ho Chun, was targeted with racist abuse on social media.

Source: L'Équipe