Singapore keeper Hassan Sunny asks China football fans to stop sending him ‘heroics’ cash
- Hassan’s food stall has been deluged with customers and QR payments since his saves against Thailand helped China into next World Cup round
Singapore goalkeeper Hassan Sunny has asked Chinese football fans to stop sending him money after his food stall was deluged with QR-code monetary transfers and gifts following his unlikely role in keeping their World Cup dreams alive.
The 40-year-old became a hero overnight in the country of 1.4 billion people after his saves during Singapore’s match at Thailand helped China squeeze into the next qualifying round.
China’s hopes of reaching the third stage of Asian qualifying for 2026 were hanging by a thread after a 1-0 defeat to South Korea in Seoul on Tuesday.
Thailand then needed to beat Singapore by three goals in Bangkok to leapfrog China and snatch second place in Group C, which would have ended China’s World Cup hopes.
The Thais did beat basement side Singapore, but by only 3-1, thanks to Hassan making 11 saves in a man-of-the-match display.