Policeman expected to be stood down from Hong Kong referee duty as FA aim to avoid potential flashpoint with angry football fans
- Football fans had commented that they intend to use laser pointers to disrupt any matches Liu Kwok-man officiates
- This weekend marks the start of the new Hong Kong Premier League season
Hong Kong football officials were tight-lipped on Friday over the future of one of their most experienced referees, who is under fire from some fans and fellow officials over online criticism of anti-government protesters.
Liu Kwok-man, also a policeman, is one of five elite Fifa-certified referees in Hong Kong, and has been given the whistle in the first two weeks of the season for the past seven top-flight campaigns.
He is alleged to have posted negative comments on social media about demonstrators, under the name of “Siu Wan B”, which can be translated as “sexy whistle”.
“Our objective is to promote football in Hong Kong. We don’t wish to become involved in political issues,” Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) chairman Pui Kwan-kay said, adding that the body typically does not name match officials ahead of weekend games.
Despite Pui distancing the body from politics, it is expected that Liu will be overlooked for any refereeing assignments for at least the first five matches of the Hong Kong Premier League, which kicks off this weekend.
Liu was heavily criticised by football supporters and fellow referees after social media comments attributed to him surfaced last month following clashes between police and protesters at Sha Tin New Town Plaza.