When Inter Miami arrives for a game against LAFC on Sunday, the club’s captain, Lionel Messi, and the striking employees at a hotel in Los Angeles have asked the squad to avoid the area.
Workers at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica started picketing on Wednesday, joining hundreds of other hotel employees in the area who have embarked on a summertime strike in protest of rising housing prices and a demand for fairer pay.
Unite Here Local 11 released a statement saying, “We have learned that Inter Miami and the great Lionel Messi are coming to Los Angeles this week for a match against LAFC on Sunday.”
“We kindly request that Lionel Messi and his teammates show solidarity with us by abstaining from the Fairmont Miramar as housekeepers, cooks, bellmen, and servers.”
After a request for comment, Inter Miami did not provide one. According to a union representative, they have not received a response from the team.
Since joining Major League Soccer last month, Argentine Messi—who is regarded by many as one of the best players of all time—has drawn a lot of attention. According to ticket seller Gametime, seats for Sunday’s match cost anywhere from $834 to $17,000.