Hong Kong 0-2 Taiwan: Paatelainen’s men lose first game against visitors in over 50 years in his debut match
- A crowd of 2,400 sees new manager lose his first game in charge of Hong Kong
- Chen Hao-Wei bags a first-half brace for visitors while fans boo the national anthem and display anti-extradition law signs
Fans booed the national anthem and held up anti extradition law signs as visitors Taiwan spoiled new Hong Kong coach Mixu Paatelainen’s first match in charge with a 2-0 victory in an international friendly at Mong Kok Stadium.
On a wet Tuesday night just two days after a million people took to the streets to protest against the controversial bill, a group of spectators at the fans zone jeered the “March of the Volunteers” when it was played before the match.
There were fears before the match – from online forums – that fans were going to do “something” at the match before they gathered outside LegCo where the bill goes into a second reading on Wednesday.
The Hong Kong Football Association stopped and searched fans as they entered the stadium but fans used “A4” print paper to display their grievances, frustrating organisers who could do little to stop them.
There was also a strong police presence with many plainclothes officers at the game. The National Anthem Bill, gazetted in January, is still being studied by LegCo before it becomes the law.