customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Andrew Cesare Richardson

Italy’s national Olympic Committee (Coni) has lodged a formal complaint following Cheung Ka-long’s gold medal match victory over Filippo Macchi, as the Italian’s coach labelled him the “moral winner” in a controversial bout.
Hong Kong foilist Cheung beat Macchi 15-14 but, with the scores level at 14-14, both men thought they had secured the victory only for a video review to overrule the referee.
Eventually Cheung secured the win, having trailed 14-12 at one point, but the Italian’s camp were bitterly unhappy at the decision.
“I’ve never seen anything like this, neither as an athlete or coach,” Macchi’s trainer Stefano Cerioni told Italian broadcaster Rai afterwards. “I would hope it is just incompetence, I would not want to suggest anything else.
“The judges abstained, this is serious for the lad. Macchi is the moral winner. He won it three times, but found himself second.

“My heart breaks for him because we worked so hard. He deserved this win because he landed his thrusts.
“Silver is a great medal, but gold is something else. Now we need to wait four years to try again.”
Meanwhile, Coni president Giovanni Malago initially labelled the decision a “disgrace” before later adding that while “referees should be respected, we have launched a formal complaint for the credibility of the sport”.
Malago also expressed his displeasure at the selection of referees from regions that are nearer to Hong Kong.
“The situation is clear,” he said. “If you have referees which you draw, the first is from [South] Korea, the second from [Chinese] Taipei, you need to change them.
“You cannot do this, it is opportunism. Find me another sport in the world where you can have referees who come from regions close to one of the countries in action.
“I spoke with the secretary of the International Fencing Federation and said that this rule needs to change. We are very angry and sorry.”

Macchi, however, took a different approach and praised Cheung following the Hongkonger’s victory.
“Fencing is a sport at the referee’s discretion,” he said. “I was ahead 14-12 and was not able to close it out.
“I will watch the thrusts again. At the time, I felt I was right. I never felt I was robbed. Perhaps they were wrong, but I do not think the referees would act in bad faith.
“I congratulated [Cheung] afterwards, he is a great competitor.”
Despite making history in Paris, Cheung accepted afterwards that things could have gone another way.
“I was so sure about the third hit, though it was the same for me on the first two,” the 27-year-old said. “In a different venue, or with a different referee, things might not be the same, but every fencer thinks the point belonged to them.”
Join our sports quiz this Friday to win flights, staycation packages, dining vouchers and much more. Learn more: sc.mp/sports-quiz


Legacy of Paris Games will live on far beyond 2024

Hong Kong Sports Commissioner Sam Wong quits 1 year into job

IOC’s complicated election rules could block Sebastian Coe’s bid to become president

Australia hockey star nets 12-month ban after attempted cocaine purchase at Paris Olympics

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Olympics: Italy lodges formal complaint after Hong Kong’s Cheung defeats Macchi

Cheung Ka-long (centre) wears his gold medal around his neck with Italy’s Filippo Macchi (left) settling for the silver. Photo: Reuters

Italy’s Filippo Macchi (left) shakes hands gold medallist Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long after their bout in Paris. Photo: AFP

Italy’s Filippo Macchi shows his devastation after losing out on a fencing gold medal to Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long. Photo: Reuters

Paris Olympics: Cheung Ka-long ‘can’t believe’ second gold – but may chase a third in 2028

Cheung Ka-long is ecstatic as he clinches gold in Paris. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long is mobbed after defending the Olympic men’s foil crown. Photo: AFP

The now double Olympic gold medallist Cheung Ka-long with his coach Greg Koenig. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong gold medallist Cheung Ka-long’s spirit makes him ‘great role model’: John Lee

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long has won the city’s second gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Photo: AFP

City leader John Lee (seated, centre) speaks to Cheung Ka-long and one of his coaches. Photo: Facebook/John KC Lee

Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey takes bronze in the 200m freestyle. Photo: AFP

People in a Kwun Tong shopping centre cheer for Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long. Photo: Eugene Lee

Paris Olympics: who is Cheung Ka-long? Stunning rise of Hong Kong’s double gold medallist

Cheung Ka-long offers his trademark tongue-out celebration after winning his Olympic semi-final at the Grand Palais in Paris. Photo: EPA-EFE

Cheung Ka-long takes a moment to savour his achievement after retaining his Olympic crown. Photo: EPA-EFE

Victory is assured as Cheung Ka-long (right) celebrates scoring the decisive point in Paris. Photo: EPA-EFE

Filippo Macchi of Italy (left) tries to attack Cheung Ka-long during Monday’s foil final. Photo: EPA-EFE

Hong Kong savours Cheung Ka-long gold, Siobhan Haughey bronze at Paris Olympics

Cheung Ka-long receives his Olympic gold medal after winning the men’s foil title in Paris. Photo: EPA-EFE

Siobhan Haughey (right) displays her medal beside Mollie O’Callaghan (centre) and Ariarne Titmus. Photo: dpa

Paris Olympics: gold for Cheung Ka-long, Haughey takes bronze - day 3, as it happened

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long takes a bite of his gold medal as he celebrates winning the individual men’s foil at the Grand Palais in Paris. Photo: AFP

Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

Hong Kong

Fencing

Italy’s Olympic Committee also criticises selection of referees from countries neighbouring Hong Kong


Italy’s Olympic Committee also criticises selection of referees from South Korea and Chinese Taipei, suggesting they were too close to Hong Kong.


Cheung Ka-long (張家朗)