Messi chants for Cristiano Ronaldo? South Korean fans plan to sue after Juventus star warms bench

More than 2,000 South Korean soccer fans will sue a sports ncy after superstar Cristia Ronaldo stayed on bench when his Juventus side played a friendly in Seoul last week, a law firm said Monday.

star Portuguese striker did t play a single second of match against a K-league all-star team, igring appeals from sell-out 65,000 crowds at World Cup Stium to lace up his boots. With frustration mounting some even chanted name of his great Argentine rival Lionel Messi.

When game was first anunced, organizers said contract with Juventus obliged Ronaldo to play for at least 45 minutes, prompting many fans to splash out, according to Seoul law firm Myungan.

Tickets priced from 30,000 won (US$25) to 400,000 won ($338)  sold out in just two and a half hours when y were released on July 3.

"So far, more than 2,000 fans have contacted us to pursue suit," Myungan attorney Kim Hun-ki told news ncies. "We plan to officially file suit on ir behalf sometime next week if ncy does t offer a concrete plan to compensate ticket holders before n."

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Italian team's flight from Nanjing in China was delayed, so that y landed only five hours before scheduled start, delaying kick-off by an hour.

Robin Zhang, CEO of Festa, Korean ncy which arranged game, told local brocaster SBS in tears that she h complained to Juventus vice-chairman Pavel Nedved during match.

He responded: "'I also hope Ronaldo plays. But he says he doesn't want to. I'm sorry re's thing I can do'," she told SBS, ding that she will find "ways to compensate" ticket holders.

Ronaldo has been subjected to a backlash on social media.

"He betrayed 60,000 audiences and belittled us," a Korean who attended game posted on Instagram. "I'm longer a Ronaldo fan."

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(With inputs from AFP)