China officials urge respect from Hong Kong fans for World Cup qualifier in Shenzhen
Organisers say supporters must abide by Fifa rules for the match on September 3 at Baoan Stadium where there are just 2,200 tickets allocated for Hongkongers
China officials appealed to Hong Kong soccer fans yesterday to behave in line with Fifa's rules for the crucial World Cup qualifying match against China in Shenzhen next month, especially when the national anthem is played.
A section at the southern end of the 40,000-seater Baoan Stadium has been set up for the visiting fans who will travel to west Shenzhen where the group C match takes place on September 3 - the same day as when the country marks the end of the second world war.
Ke Gangming, vice-president of the Shenzhen Sports Administration, is confident both sets of fans will not waste the opportunity to watch a high-level clash between two committed teams.
Fans from Hong Kong and the home team will be separated in different sectors and I don't think there is the possibility of any clash
"There are requirements for the fans, from Fifa, when playing of a national anthem during an international match and I hope fans from both sides will observe this," said Ke.
"As organisers, we will do our utmost to ensure the match is run smoothly in a safe environment.
"September 3 is also the day when the country celebrates the victory over Japan in world war two with an army parade to be held in Beijing and we hope the match can be part of the celebrations," said Ke.
