Warned to stop booing the national anthem, some Hong Kong fans at last night’s Asian Cup qualifier, well, didn’t listen.
As March of the Volunteers rang out at the stadium, jeers erupted at Hong Kong Stadium, where the home team later won 2-0, keeping their hopes of qualifying alive.
Some fans turned their backs during the song, while others waved flags advocating Hong Kong independence, according to photos on Apple Media.
A video, uploaded by the SCMP, captured the spectacle, which flew in the face of warnings by politicians and the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) after some fans booed the anthem during a friendly match against Laos last Thursday.
Over the weekend, Chief Secretary Mathew Cheung warned that international games may be played behind closed doors if fans continued what he called the “totally unacceptable acts”.
HKFA has been fined twice by the game’s governing body, FIFA, for fans booing the anthem at previous matches.
The practice began amid a rise in anti-mainland sentiment following the 2014 Occupy movement.
After last Thursday’s match, HKFA vice-chairman Pui Kwan-kay warned fans that FIFA’s punishments may increase and could potentially include the deduction of points, the Standard reported.
Fans too could soon face consequences for the behavior. Beijing recently passed an anthem law carrying harsh penalties — including up to 15 days of detention — for mocking the anthem.
The law is set to be applied eventually to Hong Kong, though it is yet to be tabled at the Legislative Council.
Many have raised concerns about its impact on freedom of expression.
