All international soccer comes with displays of pride and heritage, but for Hong Kong fans, it is more than that.
“It’s like the last outlet to watch Hong Kong or support Hong Kong,” one fan said in Qatar, where the team have reached the Asian Cup for the first time in 56 years. “But the government or society is closing that down. That’s why I guess we’re all here, to try and support the team.”
The team ranked lower than anybody else at the tournament at 150 in the world is officially called “Hong Kong, China” such as on scoreboards at games.
Photo: Reuters
“China” is a recent addition and a subtle example of Beijing’s tightening grip on the territory, following huge and sometimes violent democracy protests in 2019.
The supporter, and others like him, did not wish to be named — another indication of the fast-changing political climate in the former British colony of 7.5 million people.
The fan, waiting to enter Khalifa International Stadium for Hong Kong’s tough group-stage match with Iran on Friday, said that the new name was “kind of expected” after the recent political changes, describing himself as “numb to the whole situation.”
“What we really feel is the team themselves, not the name,” a second fan. “I still support the Hong Kong team, and I call them ‘Hong Kong,’ not ‘Hong Kong, China.’”
As political disquiet swelled throughout the 2010s, so too did support for the territory’s soccer team, with many fans finding it a conduit for civic pride and occasionally anti-government sentiment.
The Hong Kong and Chinese governments have in the past few years remolded the territory’s legal landscape to curb separatism or anti-Beijing sentiment. Among the acts outlawed is any denigration of the Chinese national anthem, which was previously routinely drowned out by a wail of boos before Hong Kong matches — to the outrage of local and mainland officials.
The second supporter said that the team inspires extra fervor because the fans “think Hong Kong football represents the identity of Hong Kong.”
“Like you never give up, because Hong Kong is never a great team, but we fight until the end,” they said.
As kickoff approached, the 300-400 fans forming a red bloc shouted: “We are Hong Kong,” a long-time chant in a territory where many seek to preserve a culture, history and language distinct from those of mainland China.
When the anthems were played, Hong Kong fans were upstanding, but mostly silent, with some citing fear of legal repercussions if they jeered, even though they are more than 6,000km from home.
Under Hong Kong’s National Security Law passed in 2020, acts deemed secessionist can be prosecuted regardless of what country they were committed in.
“There’s no boundary to the law,” the second fan said. “It applies to the whole earth.”
Ernest Lau, a Hong Konger who had flown from London to watch the team, was more ambivalent about recent changes to the match-day experience.
The 22-year-old said he never previously booed the anthem because “I’m less on that political spectrum.”
Despite one of Hong Kong’s best performances in recent memory, Iran won 1-0 in front of a crowd including some waving Hong Kong and China flags.
After the final whistle, Hong Kong fans — completely outnumbered by Iran supporters — locked arms and bounced up and down, waving scarves and flags.
“We are Hong Kong, allez allez,” the small knot of fans sang.
Hong Kong have one last game to get the points which could get them beyond the group stage, today against Palestine.
NO HARD FEELINGS: Taiwan’s Lin Hsiang-ti and Indonesia’s Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi embraced after fighting to a tense and rare 30-29 final game in their Uber Cup match The Taiwanese men’s team on Wednesday fought back from the brink of elimination to defeat Denmark in Group C and advance to the quarter-finals of the Thomas Cup, while the women’s team were to face South Korea after press time last night in the Uber Cup quarter-finals in Horsens, Denmark. In the first match, Taiwan’s top shuttler Chou Tien-chen faced a familiar opponent in world No. 3 Anders Antonsen. It was their 16th head-to-head matchup, with the Dane taking his fourth victory in a row against former world No. 2 Chou, winning 21-14, 13-21, 21-15 in 1 hour, 22 minutes. The
Jannik Sinner continued his quest to become the first man in history to win five Masters 1000 tournaments in a row with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Danish qualifier Elmer Moller at the Madrid Open on Sunday. The world leader extended his winning streak to 19 matches, a run that began early March in Indian Wells, and he has captured 24 consecutive victories at the Masters 1000 level, dating back to the Paris Masters last October. Searching for a maiden title at this level on clay, Sinner advanced to the round of 16 at the Caja Magica with a 77-minute performance against
When Paddy Dwyer arrived in China in 1976, crowds jostled to catch a glimpse of him and his companions — the first Western soccer team to play in the country. China was emerging from the chaos of the Cultural Revolution, and on the brink of market reforms that would take the country from economic stagnation to explosive growth. “All we could see was lines of people running beside our bus, trying to look in the windows, to see their first visual of a white person,” he said. “It was all bicycles,” he said. “There were very few cars to be seen.” Dwyer,
Tennis players are facing an unexpected opponent at the Madrid Open. A stomach virus or food poisoning has affected Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Marin Cilic and others, raising concerns. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka avoided an upset by Naomi Osaka on the court on Monday and said she is trying to avoid illness by sticking to a diet of chicken breasts, rice and salad. The rumor among the players was bad shrimp tacos were to blame. Sabalenka knocked on wood for luck and said, “So far, so good. I heard that I have to avoid those tacos,” she laughed, adding “I stick to the
RSS