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Super Typhoon Saola: Hong Kong football bosses prepare to axe weekend games as storm threatens city

  • Some weekend fixtures not expected to go ahead with officials planning to postpone matches if No 8 signal or higher in effect
  • Eastern scheduled to play Kitchee on Saturday, with officials having planned for a full slate of matches before Fifa window

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A resident watches the water rise near Belcher Bay Promenade in Kennedy Town as Super Typhoon Saola approaches Hong Kong. Photo: Jonathan Wong
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With Super Typhoon Saola rapidly approaching Hong Kong an already packed football fixture list could be put under even more pressure if this weekend’s games are postponed.

A full slate of matches had been planned for Saturday and Sunday ahead of a two-week break for the next Fifa playing window, when Hong Kong will take on Cambodia and Brunei.

But with forecasters considering whether to issue a higher warning signal than the No 8 already in effect, the likelihood is that Saturday’s matches at the very least will fall foul of the conditions.

According to a statement put out by the Hong Kong Football Association, games will be postponed if a “No 8 signal or above or black rainstorm warning are being issued or expected to be issued five hours before the match”.

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The statement added that if a No 3 signal, red or amber rainstorm warning had been issued or was likely to be, an inspection of the ground would determine if the fixtures could be played.

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