‘We will become the laughing stock’ – Government should reopen football grounds for matches or cancel it altogether, says Pegasus boss Steven Lo
- The local football guru wants the government to reopen its facilities for the Hong Kong Premier League
- He said even during the Sars outbreak in 2003, games continued to be played with fans wearing face masks
Hong Kong football guru Steven Lo Kit-sing has urged the government to reopen its grounds for domestic games, saying it wouldn’t make sense to stage them at improper training facilities.
As the city continues to be seriously affected by the coronavirus, the government has decided to stage all domestic games behind closed doors to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
But the former Hong Kong Football Association vice-chairman, who now runs Premier League club Pegasus, said he was also let down by the “lack of initiative” shown by the local governing body to fight for the best interests of the clubs.
On the eve of the resumption of the Sapling Cup competition at the Tseung Kwan O Football Training Centre, Lo said at a media gathering it was ridiculous to play professional games at training bases.
“There are no facilities for a proper match, no proper changing rooms, no place for half-time team briefings, no cover for team coaches and officials, no proper place for media covering the game and no spectator stands … a lot of problems,” he said. “As an interim measure due to the outbreak of the epidemic, we can accept the arrangements reluctantly but bear in mind we are professional clubs and we would become a laughing stock if we continue the whole season like this.