Hong Kong loses out on hosting AFC Champions League group stage; Thailand to host in summer
- Hong Kong government had hoped to make it biggest international sporting event since pandemic outbreak
- Hong Kong champions Kitchee will now have to play overseas in a new date between June to July
An announcement from the Asian Football Confederation on Thursday said: “Thailand will provide the backdrop for the matches in the East Region groups F, G and J, with the venues for groups H and I as well as the exact dates for all groups to be decided”.
Hong Kong champions Kitchee are in group J, which also features Guangzhou FC of the Chinese Super League, Thailand’s Port and a qualifier from the winner of a clash between J-League side Osaka Cerezo and a team from the preliminaries.
Group play will also take place on new dates between June and July with the exact schedule yet to be confirmed.
When the draw was made in January, it was announced the event would kick off in mid April, but it is expected that the CSL is also slated to start its new season in mid April and the new date could avoid a potential clash.
Hong Kong prepares ‘sports bubble’ in bid to host international football
The ACL group stage was formerly a home-and-way format but air travel restrictions and quarantine measures in different nations brought about by Covid-19 have forced the event to be played in centralised location for different groups. Member associations were invited to apply to be hosts.
Hong Kong Football Association chairman Pui Kwan-kay was disappointed the regional governing body did not choose Hong Kong, but dismissed suggestions that decision had anything to do with the government’s health policy which requires a 21-day quarantine for overseas visitors.
“We have been given the responsibility to host the AFC Cup group stage in May and this was done without the government’s approval to lift the quarantine requirement,” Pui said. “The AFC has to consider many aspects before deciding the hosts. Apparently they gave Thailand the responsibility to host three groups as it would be easier for the local organisers to make proper arrangements. Thailand has also hosted other sporting events recently and they have the experience of dealing with the set up of safety bubbles.”
Kitchee aim for improvement as they return to AFC Champions League
Pui said the new date would also suit Hong Kong better as it will cause limited disruption to the domestic schedule.
“If Kitchee have to spend two weeks at the Champions League (in Thailand) in April, it will probably put pressure on our Premier League schedule which has been delayed already due to the fourth wave of pandemic,” he said. “We plan to finish the season in June and Kitchee can now take part in the ACL upon completion of the domestic campaign.”
Kitchee coach Chu Chi-kwong was also disappointed by the decision, saying he had hoped to be able to play in front of home crowds for such an important event. He added that he had no idea when the next chance would come to be ACL group hosts.
Over 2,800 fans watched Kitchee in action against Eastern in the Premier League at Mong Kok Stadium on Wednesday night, a game which Kitchee won 1-0.
Despite losing the bid, Hong Kong will still host AFC Cup group J matches in May. The group features two home teams, Lee Man and Eastern and two overseas sides, Tainan City of Taiwan and Athletic 220 of Mongolia.
