Happy Valley disqualified from Sapling Cup semi-final over failure to pay insurance

TSW Pegasus also miss payment and both clubs could default this weekend’s Hong Kong Premier League matches

Lee Man get bye to Sapling Cup final where they will face holders Kitchee or Eastern

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Jean Jacques Kilama of Rangers rises above Happy Valley striker Rasaq Adegbite on the opening day of the 2020-21 Hong Kong Premier League season. Photo: HKFA

Published: 11:22am, 23 Feb 2021Updated: 2:37pm, 23 Feb 2021

Hong Kong Premier League side Happy Valley’s dreams of Sapling Cup silverware have been crushed after being kicked out of the competition before their semi-final on Wednesday.

The club are being reprimanded for failing to pay relevant insurance, the Hong Kong Football Association announced on Monday night.

Happy Valley and fellow HKPL side TSW Pegasus missed payments of the “Comprehensive Insurance Protection Agreement” and will also miss their league games at the weekend, the statement said. Even if the overdue payment is made the teams will have to wait seven days to rejoin the competition, the HKFA said.

It has since been reported that Pegasus made their HK$300,000 overdue payment on Tuesday morning, with Happy Valley promising to pay on Wednesday but that they would still be ruled out of the Sapling Cup. The HKFA will reportedly hold an emergency meeting on Friday to decide if the teams can in fact play their next league matches.

Robert Odu of Happy Valley shields the ball from Kitchee’s Shinichi Chan in the Hong Kong Premier League at Mong Kok Stadium. Photo: HKFA

Happy Valley were set to play their Sapling Cup semi-final against Lee Man at Mong Kok Stadium on Wednesday night.