Why English Premier League is confident there will be no repeat of the fiasco last time Hong Kong hosted Asia Trophy
League’s MD says he has had reassurances much-maligned Hong Kong Stadium will not turn into a ‘killer pitch’ once again when Liverpool and co. come to town
The English Premier League is confident Hong Kong will put on a terrific show for the Asia Trophy next month – after the last edition hosted in the city attracted headlines around the world for all the wrong reasons.
The last time Hong Kong hosted, in 2013, days of rainstorms turned the much-maligned surface at Hong Kong Stadium into a quagmire – it was branded a “killer pitch” by then-Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio and elicited scorn from the ranks of global media in town to cover the event. Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City were even rumoured to have been on the brink of pulling out before being persuaded not to.
But Richard Masters, the Premier League’s managing director, said he was confident a repeat of the fiasco was unlikely – and that the league wouldn’t have returned otherwise.
“It’s not a worry for us,” he insisted. “We’ve been working very closely with the Hong Kong FA and the stadium itself and the guy who runs the pitch and we know it’s been completely relaid and invested in fully.
“Spurs played out here last week and it rained dramatically the day before and the pitch held up very well.