While Hong Kong, soccer minnows ranked just 151 in the world compared to China’s 84, are unlikely to cause an upset, some say the political unease could motivate the underdogs.
As China celebrated its struggle victory towards Japan in Beijing on Thursday, the nation’s soccer-loving President Xi Jinping might have been momentarily distracted by a much less conclusive end result.
Chinese riot police were deployed for a Federation Internationale de Football Association 2018 World Cup qualifying match between China and Chinese-ruled Hong Kong that ended peacefully in a 0-0 draw on Thursday, amid echoing tensions from Hong Kong’s democracy protests past year.
For the day, the index plummeted 485.15 points or 2.24 percent to finish at 21,185.43 after trading between 21,170.86 and 21,692.78 on turnover of 85.82 billion Hong Kong dollars. Nevertheless the result leaves China in third place in its group behind Hong Kong and Qatar, who beat Bhutan 15-0 (though China has a game in hand over Hong Kong).
“This team has people with black skin, yellow skin and white skin”.
It is not easy for retail businesses to operate in Hong Kong, because the rent is simply too high.
Chinese police have conducted days of anti-riot drills outside a 40,000-seat stadium in the southern city of Shenzhen, bordering the Chinese “special administrative zone” of Hong Kong. “This is the only way we can release some of our anger, on the sports field”, Roy Choi, a fan with a group called “Power for Hong Kong” told Reuters.
And after the game there was further controversy when Hong Kong’s hero, goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai, who made a number of saves to prevent China scoring, accused Chinese captain Zheng Zhi of insulting him after the match, by calling him a “dog”. Analysts said players were unwilling to take risk amid so many uncertainties. “They have arranged a lot of “local” fans to support the China team”. Soccer will develop into a obligatory topic in faculties, with new textbooks for all college students.
