Hong Kong football fans have been told that they will be not allowed to bring drums and flags to the away leg of the annual match against Guangdong, in Guangzhou.
The Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup has been held annually since 1979. The first leg of this year’s match will take place on December 31 at the Mong Kok Stadium, to which fans will be allowed to bring drums and flags.
A local fans’ group “The Power of Hong Kong”, which has organised travel for fans to support the Hong Kong team at the return match in Guangzhou, was notified by the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) on Monday about the new arrangements for the game on January 3 at the Guangdong Provincial People’s Stadium.
Ng Cheuk-hang, a member of the group, told HKFP that the group did not know the reason behind the decision yet. He said he suspected it may be due to a change in the venue and the personnel responsible for the arrangements.
“In previous years the match was held in Huizhou, not Guangzhou, and the people in charge of the match have changed, since it’s a different city,” Ng said.
He added that the HKFA has been talking to the mainland Chinese organisers on behalf of the group, so the group did not have any other details apart from the ban.
The group will still travel to Guangzhou to support the Hong Kong team, and has urged more people to participate.
HKFP has reached out to the HKFA for comments.
