Soccer authorities issue warning ahead of crucial match at limited-capacity Mong Kok Stadium next month
CHAN KIN-WAkinwa.chan@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Friday, 23 October, 2015, 11:27pm
UPDATED : Friday, 23 October, 2015, 11:27pm
Fans cheer the Hong Kong team against Qatar in a recent World Cup qualifier at the Mong Kok Stadium. Photo: Edward Wong
Extensive security checks will greet the handful of Hong Kong soccer fans lucky enough to get tickets for next month's crunch World Cup qualifier against China, soccer authorities said as they revealed ticketing details on Friday.
Fewer than 3,000 tickets will go on general sale on November 4 after the government denied the Hong Kong Football Association's request to use the 40,000-seater Hong Kong Stadium, forcing it to use the 6,400-capacity Mong Kok Stadium instead.
To prevent tickets going to away supporters, fans will have to prove Hong Kong residency on purchasing tickets and show their HKID to collect tickets and at the big game on November 17. The HKFA said supporters would face "extensive bag searches" and must submit banners or promotional material for its approval to prevent political propaganda or discriminatory material making it to the stands.
The measures come after world governing body Fifa censured the HKFA and fined it 5,000 Swiss francs (HK$39,000) over fan behaviour at the team's last three home qualifiers. Fans booed the national anthem as political tension with Beijing spilled over into sport, while a drink carton was thrown at a Qatari player during Hong Kong's 3-2 defeat this month.
READ MORE: HKFA disappointed as 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium ruled out
"Tickets are very limited and we want to make sure they all get into the hands of the home fans and not other people," HKFA vice-chairman Pui Kwan-kay said on Friday. "This is an exceptional case and only for an important match like this. We hope the fans will follow all the rules so that they can enjoy a good match."
Tickets will cost HK$150 each and will only be available via cityline.com going on sale at 10am on November 4. Each buyer will be limited to two tickets and purchases must the redeemed from Mong Kok Stadium between November 9 and 15. A further 1,000 tickets for senior citizens and students will go on sale at the venue at the same time, for HK$50 each. Some 500 tickets will go to away fans via the Chinese FA.
The game is hotly anticipated after Hong Kong battled to a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture in Shenzhen in September. Hong Kong lie second in Group C with 10 points, five behind leaders Qatar, while China are three points back with a game in hand. Only the top two have a chance of making the next round and ultimately the 2018 World Cup.
China's football authority inadvertently stoked fan sentiment in Hong Kong with posters warning supporters not to underestimate the team's group rivals. It characterised Hong Kong as a "black skin, white skin and yellow skin" team, a reference fans in the city condemned as racist.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1871568/prove-youre-hong-kong-and-leave-political
