Hong Kong protest: Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup clash postponed; HKFA eye Senior Shield final for day one of Lunar New Year Cup

The Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup annual interport clash has been postponed because of the social unrest that continues to plague the city.

The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) said this year’s edition of the home-and-away fixture, along with the annual Macau interport, will be rescheduled. The body also said an announcement on the fate of the annual Lunar New Year Cup is imminent.

“After communication between the relevant parties, the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup, which was originally scheduled to be held in January 2020, and the Hong Kong-Macau Interport, will be postponed,” the HKFA said in a statement.

“More details will be announced later. Also, HKFA has been following up on the rescheduling of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Cup and arrangement of Lunar New Year Cup. Please stay tuned for more announcement from our association.”

The body has already been forced to reschedule seven matches from 2019 – six Hong Kong Premier League games and one Sapling Cup clash. Two 2020 Sapling Cup fixtures have been brought forward while the date of the final, originally scheduled for May 9, will also be changed. HKFA chief executive Paul Woodland said priority is to ensure all postponed Hong Kong Premier League matches from 2019 are rescheduled.

Because of the anti-government protests that have played havoc with a number of Hong Kong international sporting events since June, officials were considering holding a one-off match for the Guangdong fixture because mainland players were reluctant to travel to Hong Kong.

However, the body eventually decided to postpone the competition in the hopes of preserving a two-leg format.

HKFA chairman Pui Kwan-kay said in December that they were determined to keep the two-match tradition alive.

“The tournament has a long tradition with fans from both sides having the opportunity to support their teams on home soil [home and away],” he said. “We are very keen to keep the tournament in its original format and we will discuss the matter with all concerned parties to sort it out as soon as possible.”

Hong Kong have beaten their cross-border rivals 17 times in the interport while Guangdong have emerged triumphant on 24 occasions. Hong Kong prevailed in their previous encounter in 2019, scoring a convincing 4-0 home victory at Hong Kong Stadium after losing the first leg 2-1 in Guangzhou.

The first of the rescheduled domestic matches will be the Sapling Cup fixture between Kwoon Chung Southern and Wofoo Tai Po, which will be held on January 11 at Mong Kok Stadium, having been postponed from November 5.

In the Premier League, two games from October will be played in March. Lee Man take on Kitchee at Sham Shui Po and Eastern Long Lions face BC Rangers at Tseung Kwan O, both on March 15.

Four other league matches have been rescheduled for May – Kwoon Chung vs Kitchee, May 8 at Mong Kok Stadium; Wofoo Tai Po vs Happy Valley, May 9 at Tai Po Sports Ground; Best Union Yuen Long vs Lee Man, May 9 at Yuen Long Stadium; and Hong Kong Pegasus vs R&F, May 10 at Hong Kong Stadium.

The Lunar New Year Cup is one of the most popular international tournaments among Hong Kong fans but the HKFA is struggling to attract overseas teams for this year’s event.

The local governing body suggested local invitational teams may feature over the two days during the new year celebrations.

The HKFA are aiming to hold the Senior Shield Final on the first day of the new year with Lee Man playing Eastern Long Lions – subject to the clubs agreeing.