Coronavirus: only six out of 10 Hong Kong Premier League teams may be left to complete the season
- The Hong Kong Football Association has given clubs until the end of April to decide if they want to resume the season in August or September
- League leaders R&F say they will complete the season but Pegasus have already said they would stay out
Only six of the 10 Premier League teams may be left to complete the season when the competition is expected to resume in late summer, the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) said on Thursday.
HKFA chairman Pui Kwan-kay said the 10 Premier League teams would be given until the end of the month to decide if they want to return to action, with the tournament having been suspended since March because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He admitted that some teams may give up on this season but they would still be eligible to return for the next campaign.
“Some teams may not rejoin the competition because of the special situation and that is understandable,” Pui said after a board meeting at the HKFA headquarters in Ho Man Tin on Thursday. “But even if they decide not to finish the season, they will still be eligible for the 2020-2021 season because we have decided to maintain the 10 existing teams with no relegation and promotion for this season.”
The Hong Kong Premier League is at the halfway stage with eight teams having played nine games while two – Kitchee and Southern District – have played 10. R&F lead the standings with 22 points. Lee Man Warriors and Kitchee are on 19 points with Southern District fourth on 18. Yuen Long and BC Rangers are at the bottom with five points each.
Pui said the season could resume in mid August or September depending on the number of teams willing to play, with the following season set to kick off in late November and finish in June 2021.