Hong Kong FA To Fight For More Tickets For World Cup Qualifier Against China

Hong Kong "will fight for a bigger-than-normal away ticket allocation for their much-anticipated ‘local derby’ against China" in a World Cup qualifier in Shenzhen in September, according to Chan Kin-wa of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. Both of Hong Kong’s opening group C qualifying matches at Mong Kok Stadium "have been sell-outs," and after fans booed the China national anthem before both games," the build-up to the match against the SAR’s ‘big brother’ looks certain to be heated." Hong Kong FA Chair Brian Leung Hung-tak said that "he would visit the CFA next month to try to hammer out a ticket deal because of an unprecedented demand from fans desperate to travel to an away game." Leung: "According to the rules, an away team can get 8 percent of the tickets -- but judging from the heated response to our first two matches, we hope to get more from our mainland counterparts to satisfy the need of Hong Kong fans" (SCMP, 6/18).