After rumours of inappropriate ticket allocation and criticisms over the match handling, an official audit is released
The controversial yet hugely popular Real Madrid exhibition match last month cost taxpayers only $820,000, according to the game's official auditors.
The total revenue brought in by the match, played on August 8 in front of a full house at the Hong Kong Stadium, was $34.1 million. That compares with $34.9 in costs, which included an appearance fee of more than $20 million paid to the Spanish champions and $4.1 million for stadium rental.
The government has said that it would underwrite any loss incurred by the game, which was organised to help lift Hong Kong's spirits and international profile in the wake of the Sars outbreak.
The report, released yesterday, was prepared by independent auditors Ernst & Young and a special Hong Kong Football Association committee headed by HKFA vice-chairman Eddie Hui Ki-on, the former police chief.
The auditing firm was hired by the HKFA amid rumours of inappropriate ticket allocation by the association's senior management.
