Hong Kong FA to fight for more tickets for Shenzhen showdown against ‘big brother’ China
HKFA chief Brian Leung says CFA has apologised over poster gaffe, while supporters will want to back Bauhinia team in Shenzhen after topping group C
Hong Kong will fight for a bigger-than-normal away ticket allocation for their much-anticipated ‘local derby’ against China in a World Cup qualifier in Shenzhen in September.
HKFA chairman Brian Leung Hung-tak revealed on Wednesday the CFA had apologised for the gaffe, and that he was hoping to work out a deal to allow as many fans as possible to attend the September 3 qualifier at the 40,000-seater Bao’an Stadium, specially built for the World University Games in 2011.
An away team can get 8 per cent of the tickets – but judging from the heated response to our first two matches, we hope to get more from our mainland counterparts
Hong Kong have won both their opening matches against Bhutan (7-0) and Maldives (2-0), with more than 6,000 fans packing Mong Kok for each game.
Leung said he would visit the CFA next month to try to hammer out a ticket deal because of an unprecedented demand from fans desperate to travel to an away game.
“According to the rules, an away team can get 8 per cent of the tickets – but judging from the heated response to our first two matches, we hope to get more from our mainland counterparts to satisfy the need of Hong Kong fans,” he said.