HKFA chairman Brian Leung has proposed that Hong Kong could host Indian Ocean team after their president Abdulla Yameen announces move giving security forces sweeping powers to arrest suspects ahead of a major anti-government protest rally
CHAN KIN-WA
KINWA.CHAN@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 04 November, 2015, 11:00pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 04 November, 2015, 11:00pm
Police and Maldives National Defence Force personnel cordon off an area suspecting an explosive inside the engine compartment of a parked broken car in Male, Maldives on Wednesday. It was later confirmed to be a hoax. Photo: AP
A senior Hong Kong Football Association official proposed rescheduling next week’s World Cup qualifying match against the Maldives to here after the Indian Ocean nation declared a state of emergency yesterday.
HKFA chairman Brian Leung Hung-tak said he was greatly concerned about the safety of players after learning of the situation in the Maldives.
“There is no way we should go to Maldives under the current situation,” he said. “The players’ safety always comes first and I would propose to move the match to Hong Kong.
"Of course, we still have to seek Fifa advice first before we can start the next step, but there is already a precedent that Maldives play their home match in the opposition’s venue.”
Leung was referring to an earlier qualifier when the Maldives played their “home” match against China in Shenyang.
According to the schedule, Hong Kong will have to travel to Maldives for the qualifying match to be held at the National Stadium in its capital Mali on November 12.
There is no way we should go to Maldives under the current situation,” he said. “The players’ safety always comes first
BRIAN LEUNG
But Maldives President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency yesterday, giving their security forces sweeping powers to arrest suspects ahead of a major anti-government protest rally.
The move, announced on Twitter, follows an alleged attempt to assassinate Yameen and the discovery of a bomb near his official residence.
Sources said the declaration of the state of emergency would initially last 30 days.
In September, Maldives moved their home match to China’s venue when the National Stadium was not available due to poor pitch conditions.
READ: Fifa decision to allow China to play away match against Maldives in Shenyang angers Hong Kong
At the request of the opponents, the match was held at Shenyang’s Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in northern China in a match that the mainlanders won 3-0.
Leung said Mong Kok Stadium could be the host venue for the match and although time was running very short, he was confident of sorting out all the logistics with the authorities if it happened.
Hong Kong beat Maldives 2-0 in the first-leg match when they met at Mong Kok Stadium in June.
HKFA chief executive Mark Sutcliffe said he was aware of the situation and the situation was being monitored closely.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong coach Kim Pan-gon was delighted with the arrival of new faces as they defeated champions Kitchee 6-0 in a training match yesterday.
Forwards Paulo Carreiro, Sandro and Alex Akande, who joined the squad after obtaining their Hong Kong passports over the past two weeks, gave the team more options in offence, said Kim.
“They have the quality to help us to be more powerful and control the game, which is what we have been looking for,” said the coach. “Tactically and strategically, we have many weapons as I am also happy these new boys can blend in with the team quickly.”
Kim also said central defender Helio Goncalves had withdrawn from the squad due to injury and his position has been replaced by Cheung Chi-yung.
http://m.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1875684/hkfa-official-wants-move-maldives-world-cup-qualifying-match-mong
