Fans boo national anthem at HK-Iran match

Fans boo national anthem at HK-Iran match

A large contingent of football fans booed the national anthem ahead of a World Cup qualifier between Hong Kong and Iran at Hong Kong Stadium on Tuesday night, risking further punishment from the world football governing body.



Fifa had in the past fined Hong Kong over similar incidents.



Many fans dressed in red jerseys to support the local team, but there were also a large number of people wearing black – the signature colour of the anti-extradition movement.



They started booing even ahead of the playing of the national anthem, and sustained the boos loudly throughout. Some of them turned their backs to the pitch, while others made rude gestures.



The political element to the match was evident even before it began. Large crowds of people gathered at the nearby Causeway Bay station before marching up to the stadium together, chanting various slogans that have become mainstays of the protest movement, such as ‘stand with Hong Kong, fight for freedom’, and ‘five demands, not one less'.



During half-time, some also sang a new song, ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ that was written by protesters and intended to be an anthem of the ongoing protests.



One fan who distributed flyers containing the lyrics of the song complained that police were watching his every move.



“There are quite a lot of police here. To protect myself, I have to wear a mask. It is very ridiculous, right?” he said.



On the pitch, Hong Kong lost 2-0 to Iran.