HKFA: Newly signed Premier League players given green light for restart thanks to Fifa exemption
- New players can appear in remaining matches of season if they are ‘out of contract’, says game’s governing body
- Games set to begin on August 22, while Resources Capital have been promoted to HKPL for 2020-21
The Hong Kong Football Association has obtained a Fifa exemption to allow newly signed players to appear in the remaining games of the season, alleviating fears that some clubs may not be able to assemble a team.
“We are glad the exemption has been granted as we are facing an unprecedented situation that has turned the football world upside down,” HKFA chairman Pui Kwan-kay said after a special board meeting on Wednesday. “Our Premier League has been suspended since March and will not resume until August.
“Many clubs want to alleviate their burden by releasing players if they are not going to take part in the remaining games of the season, while some other clubs may sign new players. Fifa fully understands our situation and allows us to extend the ‘out-of-contract player’ rule to August so these players will be eligible to play for their new clubs in the remaining season.”
In April, the association informed clubs that newly signed players over the summer can play immediately for their new clubs and some therefore started changing their squad to prepare for the rest of the season, which tentatively returns on August 22.
However, a document released by Fifa two weeks ago entitled “Covid-19 Football Regulatory Issues” stated players transferred during this period will not be allowed to play until the 2020-21 season.
Some clubs such as Southern released some players and signed new players on the assumption that they could play immediately, but if they had to follow Fifa’s rule they would not have sufficient players for the rest of the season.
