MLS, Whitecaps to pay $347K settlement for Lionel Messi absence

The Vancouver Whitecaps and Major League Soccer will pay $347,000 to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in Canada after Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi did not appear in a 2024 game as advertised.

The British Columbia Supreme Court approved the settlement, The Athletic reported on Tuesday.

The Whitecaps heavily promoted the appearance of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner ahead of a May 25, 2024 game, anticipating a record-breaking crowd at Vancouver's BC Place stadium. Ticket prices skyrocketed.

Unfortunately, Messi, who was playing his first full season in MLS that year, ended up not traveling to the game -- along with fellow standouts Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets -- because then-Miami coach Tata Martino said he wanted to "safeguard the health" of his team for two home games the following week.

The Whitecaps attempted to lessen the backlash by reducing stadium food costs, providing meal vouchers for kids under 18 and offering free tickets to future games to some ticket holders.

A civil claim was filed on June 4, 2024 with Ho Chun as the named plaintiff. Chun purchased two tickets for more than $400 and his lawyers argued that the promotional efforts for the game "represented, implied or suggested" that Messi and the others would be there, according to The Athletic.

MLS and the Whitecaps denied liability and argued the class-action claim had no merit. Court filings said that the co-defendants agreed to settle in order to avoid further legal costs, per the report. The settlement deal contains no admission of wrongdoing.

The settlement amount ($475,000 Canadian dollars), minus legal fees, will be donated to three sports-related charitable organizations: KidSport BC, Canada SCORES and BGC South Coast BC.

--Field Level Media