Hong Kong FA hopes ‘home quarantine’ plan will earn government green light to restart Premier League in September
- The HKFA board rejects a proposed centralised bubble competition, which it says would cost around HK$10 million
- Six teams have indicated that they are willing to resume the interrupted season depending on the Covid-19 situation
The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) has decided to go ahead and complete the domestic Premier League season amid the Covid-19 pandemic, finally bringing to an end a months-old saga on whether the competition would continue or be abandoned.
However, the HKFA said after its boarding meeting on Thursday that it had rejected a proposed “bubble” plan that would see teams play at a centralised venue because of the high costs involved.
Instead, the proposal is to adopt a more cost-effective version of home quarantine for the six teams who expressed interest in finishing the season, which was halted in March because of the pandemic.
“We have made a quick calculation and the bubble plan would cost over HK$10 million for a period of six weeks to complete the season,” association chairman Pui Kwan-kay said. “I don’t think we can afford it. Both the association and clubs have been struggling under the pandemic.
“After consulting our medical adviser, we plan to use a home quarantine method which would be affordable. We will consult the six clubs and see if they will accept this cheaper plan.”