Just let football do the talking, not boo boys
- Hong Kong’s first home international fixture for three years should be remembered for its play, not the booing of the national anthem by a minority of fans
The Hong Kong representative football team drew with Myanmar last weekend. But the significance of the match was not the result. It was the fact it took place at all. This was the first international football fixture to be played in front of fans in Hong Kong since 2019, and it was eagerly awaited. More than 12,000 supporters joined long queues to get into Hong Kong Stadium to cheer on their team.
Sadly, the event was marred by a small – but clearly audible – section of the fan base booing the national anthem. This has been a feature of international matches in Hong Kong since 2014. The game against Myanmar was the first since the passing of a law criminalising the showing of disrespect to the anthem. Offenders face a penalty of up to three years in jail.
The playing of a national anthem, whether that of the home team or the opposition, deserves respect. Booing is not only a problem in Hong Kong. Such conduct may lead to fines being imposed on a team’s football association by Fifa, the sport’s governing body.
In Hong Kong, the booing relates to the city’s political divisions and troubled recent past. No one was arrested on match day. This may be because the national anthem law is not easy to implement. How do you know if someone is booing or singing when they are wearing a mask? But the police have two years to investigate, so it is possible arrests may follow.
Football fans have a responsibility to behave and observe the city’s laws. The majority do so. It is important not to allow concerns about booing the national anthem to unduly detract from the vibrant atmosphere in the stadium. Some fans complained of excessive surveillance. There is a need to strike the right balance.
Spectators may find other ways to express themselves. There was applause after 47 minutes, seen as a show of sympathy for arrested opposition figures, and at the 70-minute mark to remember Queen Elizabeth.
But the crowd was, rightly, mostly focused on the football. It was the home fans’ first chance to see this talented young team, which play an exciting, attacking style. Hopefully, it will be the first of many matches as Hong Kong opens up.
