Many football fans are upset because star player Lionel Messi did not play in a match. They want their money back.
Over 1,300 Whitecaps fans have signed a petition asking for a refund because Messi was not in the game. They say they paid a lot for tickets and feel cheated.
Mandeep Grewal from Brampton, Ontario, spent over $1,000 on two tickets. He bought them for his son’s 14th birthday. “This is my hard-earned money that I was willing to pay just for Messi as a one-time experience for my son,” he said.
Grewal’s son now feels less excited about football.
The game in Vancouver had a record crowd of 55,000 people.
Inter Miami won against the Whitecaps even without Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets. The Whitecaps gave kids free meal combos and offered half-price food and drinks but fans said this was not enough.
Tickets for this game started at $329 much higher than the usual price of under $100 for Whitecaps games.
Rachel Renzi who started the petition said “The use of Messi, Suárez and Busquets in promotional materials has misled fans into believing they would see these stars play.”
Fans want refunds, fair prices in the future, clear information about which players will play, and rules to stop this from happening again.
“The current situation is not acceptable and changes must be made to ensure fairness and transparency for all Whitecaps supporters,” Renzi concluded.
