When Hong Kong beat China in a World Cup qualifier 32 years ago, and riots that followed
China underestimated Hong Kong, said the Post’s report about the soccer match in Beijing that the city team won 2-1, triggering violent clashes near the Workers’ Stadium
“Peking, May 19 [1985] – A magnificent Hongkong team had their finest hour in international soccer here tonight when they beat China 2-1 to emerge champions of Asia Group 4A,” the South China Morning Post reported on May 20.
No one had given the underdogs much chance. To progress in the competition they’d needed to beat a free-scoring China side, backed by a “fanatical home crowd”, that had swept Macau aside in a 6-0 win a week earlier. “But China underestimated Hongkong – as indeed did many people in the territory. The chips were down tonight and Hongkong responded with a matchless display,” the report continued.
Many headlines were stolen by the subsequent violence that marred the game. “HK win sparks riot: Angry crowds stone foreigners”, the Post reported, describing scenes as “Thousands of Chinese soccer fans rampaged outside Peking’s Workers’ Stadium”.
Under the May 22 headline “Public Trials ordered for soccer rioters” the city’s vice-mayor Shang Baifa was quoted calling for those who had taken part in the “riotous act” that had “smeared the image of Peking as well as our country” to be punished.
