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Paul McNamara

Lee Chi-kin, the Tai Po head coach, has called for more transparency around football’s use of VAR, and lamented the damaging calls against his team during a potentially season-wrecking recent run.
Tai Po conceded penalties in four straight matches as they lost two cup semi-finals and drew a pair of league fixtures to surrender top spot to Lee Man.
Lee claimed his players were “scared to touch anyone in the box” during a restorative 3-2 victory at BC Rangers on Saturday.
“You can imagine the pressure on our players … it’s a problem now – not a normal situation,” Lee said. “I’m angry about it.”

In addition to the penalty decisions, Tai Po felt wronged when a shove on defender Gabriel Cividini went unpunished in the lead-up to Eastern’s first FA Cup semi-final goal. Lee also attributed his team’s chronic injury situation to opponents being allowed to rough them up with impunity.
To gain an understanding of how decisions are reached on review, the 57-year-old would like each side to have one person observing VAR officials at work. “They would just watch, and not be allowed to give an opinion,” Lee said.
“Then we will know what they’re doing – we want to know the truth.
“VAR is not clear … nobody knows what’s happening. Does [lack of transparency] protect the referees? I don’t think so. [Football authorities] say there is no problem, but how do we know?”
Lee said the two cup losses, combined with league draws with Eastern and Southern, had “killed us”.
The Post has been told that Southern bosses offered their players a sliding bonus incentive to beat or draw with Tai Po last week. The 2-2 result handed the title advantage to Lee Man, who remained top following a last-gasp 2-1 win at Kowloon City on Sunday.
“Everyone wants to beat Tai Po, but fans like us because of our football,” Lee said. “We won’t give up until the last minute, we have to keep looking forward.”
Lee, who led Tai Po to the 2018-19 title in his first spell in charge, said he had urged his players to “not think too much” about what is on the line during the run-in.
They must beat Kitchee and North District, and see Lee Man drop points against either North District or Rangers, to win the club’s second championship.

“I hope the players have their heads up – this season has been very good,” Lee said. “Most of them have contracts for next season, so they can play without pressure.
“We have developed and Hong Kong football needs this competition from more teams.”
Lee left his Colombian forward, Kevin Padilla, out of the match-day squad against Rangers. Padilla scored twice in three starts after signing in February, but has netted only once in six subsequent appearances.
“I like him, but he’s not yet adapted, and there is pressure from the fans,” Lee said. “It’s a very difficult moment for him.”
Similarly, versatile left-footer Nicholas Benavides, who on Monday was named in Hong Kong’s preliminary 37-man squad for games against Manchester United, Nepal and India, has tumbled out of the picture at Tai Po. Against Rangers, Lee handed a first league start to 21-year-old left-back Kohki Sung Wang-ngai, while Benavides, who has played 11 minutes across the past 11 matches, remained glued to the bench.
“If we were comfortable I would have put him on, but if I sent him on when it was close it would have killed him,” Lee said. “He needs more confidence, but I like him. He will stay next season.”


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Football bosses observing VAR officials? Tai Po coach calls for transparency

A referee reviews footage of an incident in a Hong Kong Premier League match. Photo: Edmond So

Tai Po felt Noah Baffoe (right) fouled Gabriel Cividini (left) before scoring. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Leung Kwun-chung (left) challenges Philip Chan in Eastern’s draw with Tai Po. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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Goalscorer Henri Anier’s Lee Man future will be decided at the end of the season. Photo: Elson Li

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Hilda Choi performed strongly in the swimming leg in Chengdu. Photo: Eugene Lee

Sport

Football

Lee Chi-kin wants observer from each team to monitor VAR officials, after his Tai Po team conceded penalties four matches in a row


Lee Chi-kin wants observer from each team to monitor VAR officials, after his Tai Po team conceded penalties four matches in a row.


Hong Kong Premier League

Football bosses observing VAR officials? Tai Po coach calls for transparency

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Lee Chi-kin wants observer from each team to monitor VAR officials, after his Tai Po team conceded penalties four matches in a row

Lee Chi-kin wants observer from each team to monitor VAR officials, after his Tai Po team conceded penalties four matches in a row