FIFA launches official probe into Hong Kong fans

AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI

HONG KONG: FIFA has launched an official investigation over the behaviour of Hong Kong fans in a match against Qatar after they jeered the Chinese national anthem and threw a drink at a rival player.

Fans booed the "March of the Volunteers" - the anthem they share with China - at a World Cup qualifier played in Hong Kong last week which the home side lost 3-2.

Last year's "Umbrella Movement" mass pro-democracy protests have soured attitudes in the semi-autonomous territory towards Chinese authorities and prompted resentment among some fans that the Chinese anthem is used to represent the city's team.

The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) said Friday that FIFA, world football's governing body, was also investigating an incident where a carton of lemon tea was thrown at a Qatari player.

"The HKFA has received correspondence from FIFA (dated 15th September) announcing that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the HKFA in relation to incidents that took place during the recent Hong Kong vs Qatar match," the HKFA said in a statement.

FIFA said the incidents were a violation of its regulations, according to the statement.

"It is regrettable that despite continuous pleas for fans to behave themselves, it appears that the behaviour of a small minority of fans has placed the HKFA in this potentially damaging situation," it added.

HKFA said it had been asked to submit information to FIFA by September 22.

"We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened," a FIFA spokesperson told AFP in an email, saying they could not comment further.

Fans' anger against China was stoked in June when a promotional poster used by the China Football Association described the city's team as "black skinned, white skinned and yellow skinned", which Hong Kong supporters criticised as racist.

FIFA had already given a warning to the HKFA after the Chinese anthem was booed at two home games earlier this year.

"We had repeatedly told fans to not jeer the national anthem, but they still did it," HKFA chairman Brian Leung told reporters Friday. "Everything right now depends on FIFA's disciplinary committee."

The HKFA has sought to play down the jeering at the Qatar match and said last week it would be "disappointed" if FIFA issued a punishment. Possible FIFA sanctions could include having to play the next home qualifier, which would be against China in November, behind closed doors.

Hong Kong's next qualifying game is away to Bhutan in October before the rematch with China. The two sides played out a 0-0 draw in Shenzhen just across the border from Hong Kong, last week.

The second round of Asian qualifying for Russia 2018 finishes in March and features 39 teams. It also doubles up as qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.