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Eric Fok Kai-shan, the chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, has called for discussions on legalising gambling on local football matches, citing its potential to generate revenue and enhance resources for the sport. However, he acknowledged that the issue remains “sensitive” and requires careful consideration of its societal impact.
In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post, Fok said that discussions on the topic are ongoing but stressed the need for a cautious approach. “A lot of people have expressed support for this … but it’s very important to understand the community and how [gambling] fits into Hong Kong, as well as how it would be regulated,” he said.
Fok highlighted the potential benefits, saying, “Doing this would definitely help the sports sector have more resources and [leave] less reliance on other funding.” However, he stressed the need to weigh the broader societal implications, urging collaboration between football and non-football sectors to examine both sides of the argument.
Last year, Philip Chan Siu-kwan, Hong Kong’s reigning footballer of the year, voiced support for legalising betting, arguing it would “attract investment … and increase public interest.” Despite this, the government’s Home and Youth Affairs Bureau reiterated that betting on local games remains prohibited to “prevent match-fixing” and due to a lack of “large and persistent demand.”
Addressing the long-standing issue of match-fixing, Fok said the association has taken certain steps to clean up the sport. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) arrested 12 football players and coaches in May last year for alleged involvement in match-fixing and illegal betting spanning three seasons.
“We are very strong on this, and we have been educating the football sector through work with clubs and players,” Fok said. He detailed the association’s use of a FIFA-recognised monitoring system to detect irregularities in matches.
“If there is any unstable behaviour, HKFA passes that information to the relevant departments, including the ICAC.”
While Fok stopped short of claiming match-fixing has been eradicated, he maintained confidence in the systems in place. “If you challenge the system, you will be identified, and there will be consequences,” he said. “We want to clean this out so people will not be tempted to get involved.”
Fok also underscored the dedication of honest players working to grow the sport.
“There are many Hong Kong players who have put in a lot of hard work to chase their dreams, and we want to rally behind them. The bad apples are only a small portion of a bigger picture.”
As speculation builds about potential European football teams playing in Hong Kong this summer, Fok revealed major interest from various clubs. He said, “We’ve had large interest from various European clubs in coming to Hong Kong this summer. It has to be coordinated with the government and Kai Tak … we are working together on this, and our aim is to bring more quality football matches to Hong Kong.”
The Hong Kong Jockey Club recorded a football betting turnover of HK$160.3 billion ($20.6 billion) for the 2024 financial year, reflecting a 2.2 per cent year-on-year increase.
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