Fifa World Cup 2026: Hong Kong debutant Lam Hin-ting responds to club CEO’s criticism after debut in Iran loss
- Lam says standard was on a much higher plane than domestic football after making senior international bow in Tehran on Thursday
- The 23-year-old plays down scathing words from BC Rangers chief Philip Lee, saying ‘if you make trouble for me, you’re paying attention to me’
Lam Hin-ting said making his Hong Kong international debut against Iran provided a sobering learning experience, with the 23-year-old also responding to criticism from his club CEO.
Head coach Jorn Andersen gave Lam his first senior national team cap for the World Cup qualifier in Tehran, after identifying the need for the midfielder’s courage and industry against one of the continent’s strongest teams.
Lam was a fulcrum of Andersen’s side at the recent Asian Games, where the city’s under-23s reached the semi-finals.
He has trodden a rocky road to this point of his young career, however, after serving a one-year ban from international representative football, for his part in reportedly vandalising hotel rooms during a drinking session with Hong Kong under-23 teammates following a match in Japan, in October 2021.
He has landed in hot water for disciplinary infractions on the field, too, and entered the current international camp with criticism from Philip Lee Fai-lup, the CEO of Lam’s club, BC Rangers, ringing in his ears.
But Lam shelved thoughts of club issues to deliver a sound display against Iran’s classy array of European-based players.
“I am satisfied with my performance, but there were some details where I could have done better,” Lam said.
“My decision making with the ball when my stamina drops can improve. There were many differences between this game and local league matches. Iran’s speed, the rhythm of the game, and how they used the ball every time they had possession.”
Rangers chief Lee took aim at Lam and fellow Hong Kong international Li Ngai-hoi after their team meekly surrendered 3-0 against Eastern in last week’s Senior Shield semi-final.
Lee additionally threatened to axe Rangers’ head coach Henry Vom Ca-nhum, before turning his guns on Andersen, because of what he perceived as poor performances from Lam and Li since their return from the Asian Games.
Andersen refused his right to reply, but Lam was relaxed over Lee saying, “Everyone has seen the performance [against Eastern] of these two players [Lam and Li]. They should have missed the match and should not have played so poorly”.
“I do not care what other people say, even if it is Philip’s criticism,” Lam said. “And I do not even mind if more people make trouble with me, because if you make trouble for me, you are paying attention to me. The most important thing is that you are here to watch the game.”
Lam will hope to retain his deep-lying midfield spot for Hong Kong’s meeting with Turkmenistan on Tuesday. Andersen was without a handful of integral performers for the game against Iran, which the hosts won 4-0, while regulars Wong Wai and Philip Chan Siu-kwan are pushing for recalls after starting on the bench in West Asia.
If the scoreline against the team ranked 21st in the world came as little surprise, neither did the yellow card Lam received for a foul shortly before half-time.
“That limited my performance,” Lam said. “I did not think it was a yellow card, but it was the referee’s call, so there was nothing I could do.
“But it was a great experience for me to play against such a strong opponent on my international debut. All of Iran’s offensive players are with big clubs in Europe, the biggest take away for me was learning from playing against players of that quality.”
