The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) is facing criticism from local football clubs and players after canceling their pitch bookings to accommodate Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr and other Saudi Super Cup teams. The cancellations, made with little notice, have disrupted training schedules and sparked outrage, particularly from women's football representatives.
Several recreational groups and Premier League clubs in Hong Kong received late notifications that their pitch bookings were being revoked to allow the HKFA to block-book the facilities for the visiting Saudi teams. Eastern, a Premier League club, had to reschedule nine training sessions between last Thursday and this Friday. While a spokesman for Eastern acknowledged the inconvenience, they stated that the HKFA assisted in finding alternative training locations and expressed their delight in the HKFA's opportunity to participate in the event, hoping for better arrangements in the future.
However, not all responses were as understanding. Danielle Vos, a player for Kitchee, voiced her frustration on social media after her team's training slot at the Football Training Centre in Tseung Kwan O was canceled just days before their Asian Champions League match. She reposted Ronaldo's Instagram post from the training center, captioning it "Shameful, once again". Vos highlighted that Kitchee had booked natural grass pitches for the entire week to prepare for their AFC Women's Club Championship qualifier in Cambodia on August 28, but the HKFA canceled their booking on Friday, citing Al-Nassr's request.
Vos questioned whether the cancellation reflected poor planning or a lack of support for women's football in Hong Kong. She also raised concerns about double standards, noting that her team had previously been required to train as late as 9:30 p.m. and questioning whether Al-Nassr faced similar restrictions. She expressed her disappointment, suggesting that such treatment discourages young girls in Hong Kong who aspire to pursue a football career. Kitchee usually trains on artificial grass but booked grass pitches to mirror the conditions expected in Cambodia. The HKFA reportedly suggested two alternative locations, but neither was suitable for the team's requirements. As a result, Kitchee will complete their preparations at their regular training ground before playing against Phnom Penh Crown and East Bengal in the qualifiers.
The Saudi Super Cup is scheduled to be held in Hong Kong from Tuesday to Saturday at the Hong Kong Stadium. Al-Nassr, with Cristiano Ronaldo, is set to face Al-Ittihad in a semi-final match. Despite the controversy, Ronaldo has expressed his enthusiasm for being in Hong Kong, posting photos of a rain-soaked training session on his Instagram account.
