Happy Valley's former director denies giving false evidence in match-fixing trial

Happy Valley soccer team's former managing director denied he fabricated evidence in a match-fixing trial because his authority at the club was diminished by the team sponsor, a court heard yesterday.

Defence counsel Mahinder Panesar put the suggestion to Kwong Hiu-ming in the hearing, in which Croatian footballer Sasa Mus, 28, has pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud at the Football Association's division-one match against Royal Southern in Tai Po on November 30 last year.

Happy Valley lost 2-4 to its rival after it conceded four goals in the last 45 minutes.

Eastern Court heard previously that team sponsor Michael Liao Siwei, who was introduced by then assistant coach Fan Weijun, allegedly pressured Kwong into making decisions.

Yesterday, Kwong denied making false statements in court because his authority in the club was diminished by Liao.

The court also heard yesterday that Fan received a 5 per cent commission of the total sponsorship of HK$5 million for introducing Liao to the team. Fan also got a pay rise.

Speaking of Mus' performance in the game against Royal Southern, Kwong said that the club's then coach Paul Foster also criticised Mus.

He recalled that Foster asked why Mus "always ran up front with the ball and lost it?"

Court heard that Happy Valley finished last that season, while Royal Southern was ranked fourth. Happy Valley was relegated to the second division after the 2009-10 season. It returned to the first division in 2013 after three seasons.

The trial continues before Deputy Magistrate Lee Siu-ho today.

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