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Hong Kong primary schoolchildren at centre of 5-a-side match-fixing probe, coaches reportedly ordered teams to lose
- Officials looking into claims surrounding match between Kwai Chung district and Tuen Mun district
- Teams said to be trying to avoid playing favourites in next round of All Hong Kong Inter-Area Primary Schools Futsal Competition
Hong Kong football bosses are investigating a claim of match-fixing involving two teams of primary schoolchildren in a five-a-side tournament.
Officials are looking into a game between Kwai Chung district and Tuen Mun district in the All Hong Kong Inter-Area Primary Schools Futsal Competition.
Both teams were reportedly told by coaches to lose the match at Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan to avoid playing a stronger side in the next round.
Video circulating on social media showed one side taking a free-kick in the wrong direction, and a goalkeeper deliberately allowing a ball to roll into the net.
A spokesman for the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) said it suspected people involved in a five-a-side football tournament of “instigating or encouraging players of match-fixing and has launched an investigation”.
Coaches from both teams have been called to the HKFA for a meeting, while the Hong Kong School Sports Federation, which organises the competition, said it was aware of Saturday’s incident and was investigating.
The video, which has been viewed more than 165,000 times on social media, showed Kwai Chung players about to take a free-kick on the edge of the opposition’s penalty area.
Rather than taking a shot at goal, a Kwai Chung player, wearing white, turns around and shoots the ball the full length of the field towards his own goal.
The Kwai Chung goalkeeper reportedly allowed the ball to trickle past him into the net.
In the same incident, Tuen Mun players showed no desire to defend the free-kick, instead standing behind the attacking team.
Both teams had already qualified for the knockout stages of the inter-district tournament, but winning Group E meant playing Group C winners and tournament favourites, Yuen Long.
“If the incident is true, it is very unacceptable, negative play is a serious violation of the spirit of sportsmanship,” said Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, a member of the Legislative Council representing sports, performing arts, culture and publication sector.
“Coaches should instil positive thoughts in players and encourage them to go all out in the game, rather than resorting to any means to gain victory.”
Tuen Mun won the game 5-3 but both teams ended up getting knocked out in the next round, anyway.
Tuen Mun lost 4-0 to Yuen Long and Kwai Chung lost 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Hong Kong West.
Hong Kong is no stranger to match-fixing scandals in football.
Last year, Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency arrested 23 people including a coach and 11 players from one football team in its biggest crackdown on match-fixing in recent years.
Players from first-division side Happy Valley and second-division clubs Tung Sing and Fu Moon were alleged to be involved.
Hong Kong football bosses are investigating a claim of match-fixing involving two teams of primary schoolchildren in a five-a-side tournament.
Officials are looking into a game between Kwai Chung district and Tuen Mun district in the All Hong Kong Inter-Area Primary Schools Futsal Competition.
Both teams were reportedly told by coaches to lose the match at Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan to avoid playing a stronger side in the next round.
Video circulating on social media showed one side taking a free-kick in the wrong direction, and a goalkeeper deliberately allowing a ball to roll into the net.
A spokesman for the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) said it suspected people involved in a five-a-side football tournament of “instigating or encouraging players of match-fixing and has launched an investigation”.
Coaches from both teams have been called to the HKFA for a meeting, while the Hong Kong School Sports Federation, which organises the competition, said it was aware of Saturday’s incident and was investigating.
The video, which has been viewed more than 165,000 times on social media, showed Kwai Chung players about to take a free-kick on the edge of the opposition’s penalty area.
Rather than taking a shot at goal, a Kwai Chung player, wearing white, turns around and shoots the ball the full length of the field towards his own goal.
The Kwai Chung goalkeeper reportedly allowed the ball to trickle past him into the net.
In the same incident, Tuen Mun players showed no desire to defend the free-kick, instead standing behind the attacking team.
Both teams had already qualified for the knockout stages of the inter-district tournament, but winning Group E meant playing Group C winners and tournament favourites, Yuen Long.
“If the incident is true, it is very unacceptable, negative play is a serious violation of the spirit of sportsmanship,” said Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, a member of the Legislative Council representing sports, performing arts, culture and publication sector.
“Coaches should instil positive thoughts in players and encourage them to go all out in the game, rather than resorting to any means to gain victory.”
Tuen Mun won the game 5-3 but both teams ended up getting knocked out in the next round, anyway.
Tuen Mun lost 4-0 to Yuen Long and Kwai Chung lost 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Hong Kong West.
Hong Kong is no stranger to match-fixing scandals in football.
Last year, Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency arrested 23 people including a coach and 11 players from one football team in its biggest crackdown on match-fixing in recent years.
Players from first-division side Happy Valley and second-division clubs Tung Sing and Fu Moon were alleged to be involved.