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Jonathan White

The eight Hong Kong Premier League clubs have unanimously voted to complete the third round of matches this season, which will see the teams divided into a championship and relegation group.
This means that the AFC Cup East Asia zone, which Hong Kong won the rights to host in a Covid-19-secure bubble environment, would need to be postponed to allow the domestic season to finish first. 
To that end, the clubs have asked the Hong Kong Football Association to write a letter to the Asian Football Confederation after Monday’s meeting, asking for a delay to the start of group J. 
If that is successful then the HKPL can finish in May but if it is unsuccessful then the league will have to conclude later in the summer.


It’s official: @AFCCup Group J, featuring Hong Kong clubs Eastern and Lee Man, will be staged in Hong Kong between May 14th-20th (single round robin). Opponents are Mongolia’s @Athletic220 and Taiwan’s Tainan FC.  Yet to see if open to general public.
— Football in HK (@offsideHK) March 1, 2021

The AFC Cup is provisionally scheduled for May 14-2o with local sides Eastern and Lee Man joined by Mongolia’s Athletic 220 and Taiwan’s Tainan City. 
That is subject to government approval as players and club staff would need to be allowed to skip quarantine.
Hong Kong ‘bubble’ gets AFC Cup group with Eastern and Lee Man
If the AFC Cup goes ahead as planned then the HKPL may only finish in July, though there are concerns over the duration of players’ contracts. 
The relegation group could be played in June.


Eastern to look west for Losada replacement after coach leaves with immediate effect

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Pakistan-born footballer’s Hong Kong ambition after ditching first sporting love

Super Typhoon Ragasa: football farce as Hong Kong matches proceed amid flooding

Hong Kong Premier League

Hong Kong clubs ask for AFC Cup to be postponed

Eastern’s Clayton dribbles away from Lee Man’s Man Bleda in the Hong Kong Premier League. Photo: HKFA

Hong Kong ‘bubble’ gets AFC Cup group with Eastern and Lee Man

Kitchee fans cheer during the Kitchee versus Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors AFC Champions League match in 2018. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Eastern Long Lions beat R&F to win Hong Kong FA Cup and claim a place in AFC Cup

Eastern celebrate their Hong Kong FA Cup final win against R&F. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Eastern leave it late to keep Hong Kong Premier League title race alive

Eastern’s Fernando dribbles with the ball in the Hong Kong Premier League match against TSW Pegasus. Photo: HKFA

Hong Kong Premier League: Kitchee’s Dejan Damjanovic scores hat-trick, Fabio oldest scorer at 44

Kitchee march on as Lee Man boss calls for VAR in Hong Kong Premier League

Lee Man’s Jonatan Acosta (left) evades a tackle from TSW Pegasus player Marquinhos. Photo: HKFA

Sport

Football


Hong Kong Premier League agrees to play third round of matches but want them to go ahead before AFC Cup planned for May
If Asian Football Confederation disagrees then HKPL season could go on until July



Hong Kong Premier League agrees to play third round of matches but want them to go ahead before AFC Cup planned for May.


The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)