Hong Kong Premier League suspended another three weeks after escalation of Covid-19 cases in the city

Hong Kong’s domestic season remains at a standstill after the Football Association on Monday extended its suspension of Premier League matches for another three weeks.

With Hong Kong still battling to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, HKFA chairman Pui Kwan-kay said after a special board meeting on Monday that football was not ready to return.

“The government has repeatedly reminded people of less contact and avoiding social gatherings to minimise the possibility of [Covid-19] infection,” said Pui. “This is a difficult period and if the situation is getting better after three weeks, we hope to restart the season again.

“We are still aiming at finishing the season in May but it depends on the developments regarding the virus, and we want to contribute in fighting against it. The entire community has been affected and it’s not only football that is suffering.”

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The government has closed all its venues, including the Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground – which has been used for matches played behind closed doors since March 7. A statement from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department over the weekend said: “In view of the latest situation of Covid-19, the leisure venues and cultural facilities reopened earlier this month will be temporarily closed starting from March 23.”

The season was initially suspended after the Lunar New Year until February 11 when all matches were moved behind closed doors at Tseung Kwan O Football Training Centre.

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Eastern Long Lions, who have a Senior Shield final against Lee Man and an FA Cup final against R&F to play, came out in support of the decision despite being without a training ground.

“Everybody knows it’s a difficult period for Hong Kong but the suspension of the Premier League for three weeks is necessary and reasonable in terms of epidemic control,” said coach Lee Chi-kin. “Someone may worry if the season can finish on time if we restart the league three weeks later, whether the players can still finish the season with their existing contracts, but these are only minor matters compared to the battle against the epidemic outbreak. For us, nothing is more valuable than our lives.”

Lee said most of the Eastern players were contracted until June and if some of them needed an extension to finish the season, they would be happy to discuss the matter.

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All Eastern players would be asked to train on their own for the next few weeks.

“Our physical instructor and physiologist will give them some advice so that they can keep a minimum level of physical activity during the next two weeks,” said Lee. “We still need players who are fit to play when the season restarts.”

Meanwhile, Kitchee said they would implement changes to their coaching set-up because of the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the likely delay of the AFC Cup.

Blaz Sliskovic will step down as head coach through mutual consent with Alex Chu Chi-kwong, director of football, taking temporary charge of the first team until the end of this season. Sliskovic will remain at the club as a consultant.