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China soccer fans furious as thousands of Hong Kong supporters boo national anthem
World Cup tensions look set to ramp up even higher after mainland fans watching on CCTV5 see Hongkongers jeer March of the Volunteers
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Hong Kong and China’s World Cup qualifying match-ups look set to be even more heated affairs after mainland netizens reacted angrily to footage of a packed Mong Kok stadium booing the national anthem before Thursday night’s 7-0 win over Bhutan.
Given the political situation in the SAR, the games – in Shenzhen in September and Hong Kong in November – between “big brother” and “little brother” were already set to be the stage for fierce rivalry.
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And in recent days, those tensions have amped up, first as the Chinese Football Association released a clumsily worded poster warning fans not to underestimate Hong Kong's "black skin, white skin and yellow skin team".
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A 6,300-strong full house – many suggested fans were motivated to attend by that poster – watched Hong Kong thrash the Himalayan minnows in the opening group C match, some displaying banners such as “HK till I die” and “Hong Kong Power”.
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