First Division players who oppose the new physical test have gained support from re-elected Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) chairman Victor Hui Chun-fui. The HKFA council decided last month that all First Division players must pass the physical test before they can register with the local sport's governing body. The decision has come under fire by the First Division players. Asian Football Confederation secretary-general Peter Velappan has said it was wrong for a national football association to interfere with the players' fitness at a club level. Hui, who has returned to the hot seat for the fifth time, agreed with Velappan that it was not the HKFA's job to check the players' fitness. 'It is not necessary for the HKFA to interfere with every single tiny bit of local football,' said Hui. 'Sometimes we have to let the clubs do their own jobs.' The idea of introducing the physical test, in which the players have to run at least 3.1 kilometres in 12 minutes, was proposed by the clubs' bosses in a bid to protect the interest of the clubs. 'Some of the players, including some expatriate players, are not fit enough and this has lowered the standard of Hong Kong football,' said Sing Tao chairman Ng Chung. 'The physical test will guarantee all our registered players are fit. The standard of local games will also be guaranteed.' The clubs have proposed to carry out the test twice each season, once at pre-season, and once in the middle of the season for those who cannot make it at pre-season.
