'Football will die' in Hong Kong without funding under Project Phoenix

Hong Kong Football Association chief executive Mark Sutcliffe has warned that soccer "would die" if the government stopped funding Project Phoenix.

At a forum opened to the public last night, the high-ranking official appealed for support from all soccer stakeholders to continue the project when its first three-year tenure comes to an end in October.

But Hong Kong legislator Leung Kwok-hung, better known as "Long Hair", who is an avid soccer fan, was not moved by Sutcliffe's pleas as one of the forum's speakers.

"It is very difficult for the HKFA to convince the public that Project Phoenix is successful," said the lawmaker. "In fact, the whole thing is just government propaganda to show what they call the Hong Kong spirit. This is all politics and in the end it will fail."

Leung said that when in the Legislative Council, he would not support continuing the project.

Launched in 2011, the project has cost taxpayers HK$20 million a year to revive the sport at all levels and will be reviewed later this year before the government decides whether or not to continue its support.

Sutcliffe stressed the project had made great progress over the last two years and that it was worth persevering with.