Transparency at all tiers is essential for Hong Kong's future

Players, coaches and owners be warned: frivolous complaining about match officials could bring repercussions.

In Hong Kong, it appears clubs lodging complaints and appeals are wasting time and resources, as well as inconveniencing those involved. Whenever teams cannot accept the reality of losing or having decisions go against them, it has become common to lodge official complaints against match officials, claiming poor performance or some procedural anomaly.

Rational Ref reckons match officials should reciprocate and report unsporting behaviour and suspicious activity by teams, managers and players - particularly since the HKFA is laying down standards of good practice for clubs, such as having them submit full disclosures of interests that can help in preventing match fixing.

In addition, this honour system of self-declaration - and having match officials report on shenanigans - will perhaps prevent future bad attitudes and unsporting behaviour that many clubs in Hong Kong often exhibit.

The HKFA has in place specific standards, security and support at all First Division matches that permit some semblance of transparency and control. Unfortunately, it is in the lower tiers - the second, third and fourth divisions - where many anomalies and suspicious events attract little attention and receive little support from the HKFA. Match officials working in the lower leagues really do earn their stripes and must have thick skins, observing many irregularities, which ideally should be reported.

Last weekend, Second Division leaders Wong Tai Sin beat midtable Tai Chung 6-0 and at face value this was an expected result. However, on closer inspection Tai Chung fielded only nine players, despite reassurances from the Tai Chung coach that "other players were on their way" and "the match could go ahead" at the scheduled kick-off time.