- Around 4,500 fans attended the World Cup qualifier against Bahrain, which went ahead at the Hong Kong Stadium despite social unrest
Local fans held a minute's silence during Hong Kong's tense 0-0 Fifa World Cup 2022 qualification match against Bahrain on Thursday in remembrance of the Hong Kong student who died last Friday.
Chow Tsz-lok, 22, suffered severe brain injuries after falling from a Tseung Kwan O car park on November 4 following a confrontation between protesters and police.
The mark of respect occurred on the 22nd minute of the match at Hong Kong Stadium, in tribute to Chow's age.
Eerie hush descends on Hong Kong Stadium on 22 minutes to mark the death of protestor Chow Tsz-lok, 22, who died last Friday from injuries sustained in a fall, reportedly fleeing from #HongKongPolice pic.twitter.com/95Jw9M8xLt
" Paul Ryding (@pjrydo) November 14, 2019
Ahead of the match, fans were seen applauding the Bahraini national anthem before defying the Hong Kong Football Association's (HKFA) calls earlier in the week and openly jeering and booing the Chinese anthem.
Fans from the So Kon Po arena's East stand " filled with neutral and Power of Hong Kong supporters " were also seen holding sheets of paper saying "Free Hong Kong" and gesturing "five demands, not one less" during the anthem. One sign also included the slogan in Arabic.
No love lost for the Chinese national anthem at the Hong Kong vs Bahrain World Cup qualifier #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/dR8KeKhQfh
" Paul Ryding (@pjrydo) November 14, 2019
Instead of booing, some from other stands opted to turn their backs, cross their arms and raise their middle fingers in the air.
Despite increased police reinforcement and the tense political climate of late, fans did not appear too nervous ahead of the match.
However, it became somewhat of a tinderbox atmosphere once inside the stadium as triggered fans cheered for every Hong Kong play and booed any decision that did not go their way.
Hong Kong vs Bahrain pic.twitter.com/cAa7XujGKF
" Andrew McNicol (@AndrewMcSport) November 14, 2019
The stubborn 0-0 draw between world ranked-145th Hong Kong and 101-ranked Bahrain was marred by a post-match scuffle as the respective players went to shake hands at the halfway line. The Bahrainis, who felt Hong Kong were wasting time to see out the match, were visibly upset and verbal abuse and shoving ensued between both teams.
Earlier this week, HKFA chairman Pui Kwan-kay said there would be "tightened security because of social unrest" and urged fans to respect the rules and regulations.
Pui's calls were expected to fall on deaf ears. Hong Kong has been fined by both Fifa and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) because of past behaviour, primarily the booing of the Chinese national anthem.
Notable fines include Fifa's HK$120,000 fine on the HKFA after Hong Kong's last group match against Iran in September, and the AFC-imposed penalty of HK$23,000 after a home match against Malaysia in 2017.
Pui also did not rule out the potential of Fifa increasing fines if fans continued to boo the anthem, calling it "detrimental to the Hong Kong team and players".
The official attendance was 4,541.
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