Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s domestic football season thrown into disarray as social-distancing measures tightened and extended
- Government will keep sports facilities closed until February 24 and there are no indications as to when restrictions will be lifted
- Football Association doubts if current season can finish in May and regional club competitions could also be affected
Hong Kong’s domestic football season and plans to stage regional tournaments were thrown into disarray on Tuesday after the government extended social-distancing rules.
The announcement means all football stadiums will remain shut until February 24 at the earliest, and four more matches slated for February 19 and 20 will need to be rescheduled.
Already three rounds of 12 BOC Life Premier League matches, plus another nine Sapling Cup matches, and the FA Cup final between Eastern and Kitchee have been suspended. All football grounds were closed in early January when government tightened social-distancing measures in response to a renewed coronavirus outbreak in the city.
“Even if the government decides to reopen the venues on February 25 which is highly unlikely under the current pandemic situation, we can’t resume the competitions immediately,” Pui Kwan-kay, the Football Association chairman, said.
“We need to give the players ample training time so that they can get their body fit again for competitive matches after such a long break or they will be easily getting injured.
“This may take another two to three weeks before the season can restart. Under such circumstances, we don’t think the season can finish in time in May as scheduled.”
The football chief said they would have to consider immediate measures, such as calling off the Sapling Cup to shorten the season, or playing all matches behind closed doors, as they have in the previous two seasons under the pandemic.