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.