Hong Kong clubs reject Guangzhou-based R&F’s bid to gain voting membership on HKFA
- The club have played in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons and is eligible for the status
- The HFKA board recommendation only receives five votes out of 22
Hong Kong Premier League club R&F’s dual status was brought into question again when a proposal that they be accepted as a voting member of the Hong Kong Football Association was rejected in a poll of existing members.
At an extraordinary general meeting of the association on Tuesday night, the Guangzhou-based club failed to obtain enough votes to join the existing 47 members. Of the 22 members present, 16 voted against the recommendation by the association’s board.
Of the 10 teams in the Premier League, only R&F and Lee Man are not voting members. The decision, however, will not affect their league campaign as they can continue to play as a non-voting member. Top-flight clubs Kitchee, Pegasus and Kwoon Chung Southern all voted against the recommendation.
No R&F representatives attended the meeting but association chairman Pui Kwan-kay said they conducted the required procedures as “there was no prejudice against any member”.
“Although it was a recommendation of the board, the members have to vote and it was their decision,” he said. “Of course, the club also has to work hard to get the support if they want to win the vote.”