Messi warned to stay away from pre-booked hotel after "violent attack"

01 September 2023 , 17:43

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Security staff at a Santa Monica hotel were filmed allegedly "'violent attacking" striking workers, according to a video Unite Here Local 11 union (Image: @FairmontMiramar/Twitter)

Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates have been encouraged to avoid staying at a hotel in Santa Monica ahead of the team's clash with LAFC.

Striking employees from the Fairmont Miramar have joined thousands of fellow hotel workers in the Los Angeles area as they seek better wages. According to Unite Here Local 11 - the union representing the workers - employees were allegedly "violent attacked" by security staff from the hotel last month.

Clips released by the union show what appears to be the alleged attacks taking place. In the caption of the video released on Unite Here Local 11's Twitter account, the union issued a defiant message following the events which are purported to have taken place on August 6.

They stated: "Today ⁦⁦Fairmont Miramar security officers attacked striking workers at their hotel. Our members won’t give in to bully tactics at the negotiating table or the picket line."

As per the Daily Mail, Messi and his teammates are due to stay at the hotel before their MLS clash in the region on September 3. Workers from the hotel have now come together to urge the Argentine superstar to stand in solidarity with them as they seek better pay amid rising housing costs.

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The union have since released the following statement: "We have learned that Inter Miami CF and the Great Lionel Messi are coming to Los Angeles this week for a match against LAFC on Sunday. Workers this morning walked out on strike at 13 hotels, including the Fairmont Miramar.

"Just two weeks ago, workers at the Fairmont Miramar called for a boycott of their hotel after hotel security officers were videoed violently attacking their own employees while they attempted to establish a picket line.

Security staff at a Los Angeles hotel were filmed allegedly "'violent attacking" striking workers, according to a video Unite Here Local 11 union (@FairmontMiramar/Twitter)

Security staff were filmed allegedly "'violent attacking" striking workers, according to a video Unite Here Local 11 union (@FairmontMiramar/Twitter)

"As housekeepers, cooks, bellmen, and servers, we ask Lionel Messi and his teammates to stand in solidarity with us and stay out of the Fairmont Miramar."

The Herons are continuing their MLS season following their triumphant exploits in the Leagues Cup, as Messi led the team to glory as captain. The team have picked up four points from two outings in the league since play resumed.

Gerardo Martino's side currently sit second from bottom in the Eastern Conference, with ten games left to play to secure a playoff place. Vice City are ten points off Chicago Fire in the final qualifying spot, albeit with two games in hand on the Illinois outfit.

New recruit Messi has been in sensational form since making the move stateside, notching 11 strikes in 10 games. The 0-0 stalemate versus Nashville in the Herons' most recent outing was the first time the forward has failed to score in a game for his new employers.

Tom Beattie