Government gives fans green light to attend next week’s AFC Cup group matches
- Eastern Long Lions and Lee Man will represent Hong Kong while overseas teams Tainan City, of Taiwan, and Mongolia’s Athletic 200 will also take part
- Hong Kong Stadium lower level will be closed off to fans to avoid contact with players under the pandemic
Spectators will be allowed to attend next week’s AFC Cup group competition in Hong Kong after the Football Association obtained government approval.
The green light was given by the government this week to allow time for organisers to start preparation for the four-team tournament which involves two overseas teams – Tainan City from Taiwan and Athletic 200 from Mongolia – and two home sides, Eastern Long Lions and Lee Man.
“The spectators will be separated from the players who will play under a safety bubble,” said a source close to the organisers. “We think this is fair as long as there is no contact between the fans and the players.”
The regional governing body, the Asian Football Confederation, has already agreed to allow fans to attend the tournament but the final decision was left in the hands of the government, who has been strict on social-distancing rules under the pandemic.
To fulfil safety requirements, the lower level of the Hong Kong Stadium, one of the two venues for the tournament, will be closed off to fans, who will only be allowed to watch the game from the upper level. However, there will be no need for such an arrangement in the other venue, Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground, as the spectator stands are separated from the pitch.
Eastern will play all three matches at the So Kon Po venue, including the opening match against fellow Hong Kong club Lee Man on June 23. Lee Man will then be based at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground for the two remaining matches against Tainan City and Athletic 200 on June 26 and 29 respectively.
Fans will also need to follow other guidelines from the government and the association’s medical committee in implementing the safety and hygiene measures at stadiums such as submitting health declaration forms, temperature checks, wearing masks properly and eating no food inside the venue. Also, they cannot occupy more than four consecutive seats in the same row.
The two home sides will move into a hotel this weekend under a safety bubble, while the two overseas teams are also expected to arrive in Hong Kong this week. Eastern and Lee Man players who travelled with the Hong Kong team for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Bahrain will not be required for a 14-day quarantine upon their return but will be treated the same as overseas teams under the safety bubble.