The Hong Kong Football Association is urging the government to allow football to restart as soon as possible after all games were suspended at the weekend due to the latest wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Four FA Cup group matches were scheduled for various venues, but all were stopped after the government stepped up safety measures last week by closing all grass pitches and spectator stands to avoid crowds gathering. “We have already applied for playing matches behind closed doors during this critical period, but so far we have heard nothing from the authorities,” said association chairman Pui Kwan-kay on Monday. “We are in full cooperation with the government’s anti-pandemic measures, but at the same time we also need to proceed with the season which has already been interrupted. “If the season cannot resume as soon as possible, it will be very difficult to finish it in time, even though we only have eight teams in competition. The clubs and their players will all be affected.” Football set to go back behind closed doors in latest round of anti-Covid 19 measures The fixtures show the current season will end in June, although there will only be two cup finals scheduled for the month after the Premier League championship ends in May with the two play-off group matches. All Premier League clubs have also suspended their training as no venue is available and the latest social-distancing measures allow no more than two people in a group, even if they are in team sport training. To continue the season by playing matches behind closed doors, the association had proposed to conduct “home quarantine” again for players and club officials, who will also have to take Covid-19 tests before their matches. On match days, they will not be allowed to use public transport to reach the venue, but through designated vehicles. It is believed the Department of Health is still studying these measures before deciding whether to give the association a special dispensation to allow football to restart. Low turnout as Hong Kong football fans return after 10 months Like all sports in the city, football has been in disarray since the start of the year when the coronavirus outbreak emerged. . The annual Lunar New Year Cup in February was called off just hours after the Football Association announced at a press conference that it would go ahead as planned. The Sapling Cup matches had to move to the association’s training centre in Tseung Kwan O with no spectators allowed. The 2019-20 season did not finish until October when Kitchee lifted the championship and spectators were only allowed to return in early November.