Tai Po players celebrate in front of fans after a win over Kitchee in the AFC Cup in 2019. Photo: Handout
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https://scmp.com/sport/football/article/3086736/hong-kong-premier-league-down-six-teams-after-wofoo-tai-po-withdraw Football
Hong Kong Premier League down to six teams after Wofoo Tai Po withdraw due to financial problems
- Defending champions cite problems with sponsor as some players and staff wait for salaries
- One Tai Po coach resigns to lower club expenses
Coach Fung Hoi-man resigns as defending Hong Kong Premier League champions Wofoo Tai Po withdraw from the season due to financial problems. Photo: Handout
Defending Hong Kong Premier League champions Wofoo Tai Po have announced their withdrawal from the remainder of the season due to financial problems amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The decision leaves the league, which is scheduled to resume in August, with six teams. The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) had confirmed the withdrawal of Pegasus, BC Rangers and Yuen Long earlier this month.
“In response to the novel [Covid-19] epidemic, the sponsor [Party A] has failed to comply with the contract,” Tai Po said in an official statement on Friday.
The club cited article seven of its agreement with the sponsor, which said, “Party A promises; the year’s sponsorship is for the whole season, and will not stop or be delayed due to injections of funds. Agreeing for all staff and players’ salaries, Party A will provide funds until June 30 2020. Otherwise, Party A will be responsible for all legal and financial costs.
“Regulations show that there have been violations in the contract signed by both parties. As a result, the renumeration for some of the club could not be paid as scheduled,” the club continued.
“In order to resolve the difficulties faced by the club, it has already arranged financial loans and has [repaid] part of the wages.
“However, after nearly one month of negotiations, the sponsor stated that funds could not be arranged in the short term. The club had no choice but to inform the [HKFA] on [May] 29 that it would withdraw from all remaining matches for the rest of the Hong Kong Premier League season.
Tai Po coach Fung Hoi-man said he has also resigned to lower club expense.
Prior to the league’s postponement, R&F were leading the league. However, due to their three victories against the above teams being nullified, they are now tied with Lee Man and Kwoon Chung Southern.
In the AFC Cup, Tai Po were scheduled to face home and away legs against either Tatung FC of Chinese Taipei and Must CPK of Macau. The, match between those two had been already been postponed by organisers.