East Asian Football Federation qualifiers: bosses out to prevent club v country conflict
Hong Kong to face Mongolia and Chinese Taipei in tournament, with Kai Tak hosting 1 game; English Premier League club could play here in 2025
Local football bosses have planned talks with leading clubs to try to ensure Hong Kong are not weakened for their East Asian Football Federation qualifying campaign in the city next month.
Hong Kong begin their tournament against world No 188 side Mongolia, at Hong Kong Stadium, on December 8, three days after Eastern’s AFC Champions League Two clash with Sanfrecee Hiroshima in Japan. Lee Man play Tampines Rovers at home in the same competition on December 4.
Hong Kong then face 168-ranked Chinese Taipei at Mong Kok Stadium on December 14. The group winners advance to a December 17 final at Hong Kong Stadium, where the qualifiers for next year’s EAFF finals, alongside Japan, China and hosts South Korea, will be determined.
Eric Fok Kai-shan, the chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA), said: “The competition is not in a Fifa window, so we have to respect this. The scheduling is organised by the EAFF – we are just delivery partners.
“We hope to have our strongest players available. We communicate well with the clubs and, now we have a schedule, we need to discuss [a solution].”
Charles Cheung Yim-yau, the HKFA CEO, added: “We need to respect the clubs, but it could be an opportunity for the head coach [Ashley Westwood] to try other players.”
