South China official blasts the professionalism of the Hong Kong Premier League saying fans no longer care about the competition

Lam Tai-fai hits out at the league organisers as he discloses more details of the club’s withdrawal from next season’s competition

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Outspoken South China official Lam Tai-fai has blasted the Hong Kong Premier League. Photo: David Wong

Published: 4:19pm, 7 Jun 2017Updated: 11:17pm, 7 Jun 2017

A senior official at South China hit out at the Hong Kong Premier League on Wednesday as more details of the club’s withdrawal from next season’s competition were disclosed.

Lam Tai-fai, who sponsors the youth development programme at South China, questioned the professionalism of the competition this season after organisers allowed amateur outfit Hong Kong Football Club to participate as well as a Guangzhou R&F youth development side. The Chinese Super League club arranged prior to the start of last season that they would send a development squad to compete in the Hong Kong competition.

The two teams finished bottom and second-bottom of the league table.

During a radio interview, Lam said he was willing to put up HK$3 million per year for the club but could not be its sole financier.

A former LegCo member, Lai was also appointed by the government as the Sports Institute chairman in April.

Lam is the chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute. Photo: Handout

He said there were many reasons for South China’s decision to quit the Premier League, which he suggested is no longer popular among supporters.

“The Premier League is not so popular,” said Lam. “There are 11 teams in the League and we are talking about a professional league, but two of the teams are not so professional.”