Lee Man to snub Sapling Cup semi over ‘special treatment’ by HKFA

Hong Kong Premier League side handed 3-0 walkover after Happy Valley missed insurance payment but appeal means game back on

Club will refuse to play, says statement – ‘Fairness and justice is more important than victory and results’

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Everton Camargo of Eastern challenged by Wong Ho-chun of Lee Man in the Hong Kong Premier League. The teams will meet in the Sapling Cup final if Lee Man’s walkover win over Happy Valley remains in place. Photo: Hong Kong Football Association

Published: 12:49pm, 28 Feb 2021Updated: 4:50pm, 28 Feb 2021

Hong Kong Premier League side Lee Man have expressed their unhappiness at the Hong Kong Football Association appeal board’s decision to allow Happy Valley and Pegasus back into the league despite missing insurance payments.

In a statement posted on the club Facebook in Chinese on Saturday Lee Man also said that they will refuse to play a rearranged Sapling Cup semi-final with Happy Valley, suggesting that questions will be asked whether some clubs received “special treatment” from the HKFA.

The semi, scheduled for last Wednesday, was called off after Happy Valley missed an insurance payment. Lee Man were handed a 3-0 walkover win and a place in the final.

Both Happy Valley and Pegasus, who had also missed a payment, since paid the late premium and appealed the decision by the HKFA Disciplinary Committee to bar them from local football for seven days.

The HKFA Appeals Panel met on Saturday morning and ruled in favour of the clubs. Both were allowed to play this weekend’s games and news on the semi-final is set to follow, the HKFA said. Their decision was based on financial difficulties for clubs during the Covid-19 pandemic.