https://www.scmp.com/rss/40/feed Football news including matches, fixtures, transfers and results. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Scheduling the pre-tournament press conference less than five hours before the opening match did little to disabuse anyone of the impression that everybody involved in organising the inaugural Fifa Asean Cup is flying by the seat of their pants. It all got too much for Vladica Grujic, the fiery Laos head coach, as the clock ticked 15 minutes beyond the scheduled 12.15pm start time. “This is crazy, we’re playing this evening and my player [captain Bounphachan Bounkong] needs to have lunch,”... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3368708/hong-kong-hero-back-town-fifa-asean-cup-current-coach-plays-down-key-man-exit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3368708/hong-kong-hero-back-town-fifa-asean-cup-current-coach-plays-down-key-man-exit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:29:31 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Having long ago agreed to coaching duties with Hong Kong this week, the interim Eastern head coach Cristiano Cordeiro has landed himself with a calendar clash. “It’s chaos,” he said, a light-hearted comment that would aptly describe Eastern’s embryonic campaign. Beaten in their opening match by newly promoted Supreme Sha Tin, who have since lost four straight games, Eastern then received two red cards in a 4–1 defeat by Tai Po. One of them went to Leung Kwun-chung, who duly resigned as... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3368263/after-chaotic-start-are-five-time-hong-kong-champions-club-crisis-or-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3368263/after-chaotic-start-are-five-time-hong-kong-champions-club-crisis-or-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 02:00:12 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara The local football association has planted its flag in the camp of Gianni Infantino, the embattled Fifa president who is expected in Hong Kong for the final of the second-tier Asean Cup on October 3. At a media event to announce details for the coming competition on Friday, Eric Fok Kai-shan fudged the direct question over whether Infantino retained his organisation’s backing. But the chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) said that “whoever supports Hong Kong football... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3368027/fok-fudges-hong-kong-football-chiefs-appear-ready-make-gianni-infantino-their-man?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3368027/fok-fudges-hong-kong-football-chiefs-appear-ready-make-gianni-infantino-their-man?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:00:06 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Kitchee survived playing the final 25 minutes with 10 men, after a debatable red card for captain Ruslan Mingazov, to draw 0-0 with Gangwon FC on Thursday night in their opening AFC Champions League 2 match. Although a point against the strongest team in the group represented a sound return, it could have been even better for the Hong Kong club on their return to Asian competition after three years away. Mingazov and Victor Camarasa, the former Cardiff City midfielder, were both inches wide with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3367910/afc-champions-league-2-hong-kong-champions-kitchee-survive-red-card-make-point?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3367910/afc-champions-league-2-hong-kong-champions-kitchee-survive-red-card-make-point?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 18:36:50 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Although he cheesed off some of his England players when he accused them of being “sloppy” and committing “lots of technical mistakes” following their World Cup quarter-final victory over Norway this summer, Thomas Tuchel’s angst perhaps stemmed from the knowledge that a much tougher test was around the corner. So it would prove, the head coach’s team punch-drunk by the end of their semi-final capitulation against Argentina. For Tuchel two months ago, and indeed Alex Ferguson after the 1983... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3367761/hong-kong-premier-league-kitchee-face-afc-champions-league-test-against-koreans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3367761/hong-kong-premier-league-kitchee-face-afc-champions-league-test-against-koreans?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:18 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Five days away from one of the biggest matches of his young life, it would have been understandable had Sohgo Ichikawa reined in his efforts when his club team, Lee Man, faced Eastern District. Instead, the 22-year-old buzzed about on Friday in the manner that has made him the outstanding young player of the early part of the Hong Kong Premier League season. He will step out for the under-23s’ opening Asian Games fixture against his birth country, Japan, next Wednesday cradling fresh memories of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3367302/asian-games-meet-footballer-japanese-blood-ready-fight-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3367302/asian-games-meet-footballer-japanese-blood-ready-fight-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:23 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang A “lone warrior” watched on as China’s football team started their 2026 U20 Women’s World Cup with an emphatic 5-0 victory over New Caledonia in Poland. Li Zijian was the sole Chinese fan in attendance at Sosnowiec Arena, his solitary cheers spurring on the team during the match. And his presence did not go unnoticed. At the end of the match, captain Liu Chen led her team hand in hand towards an almost empty stand, bowing deeply to the 23-year-old earlier in the week. Li was also in attendance... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3367239/lone-warrior-travels-poland-fulfil-promise-watch-china-u20-womens-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3367239/lone-warrior-travels-poland-fulfil-promise-watch-china-u20-womens-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:04:43 +0000 Reuters,Associated Press Reuters,Associated Press Mauricio Pochettino said Chelsea should be stripped of their 2016-17 English Premier League title ⁠and it should be handed ⁠to his former Tottenham Hotspur side following ⁠the Blues’ record fine for rule breaches earlier this year. Chelsea were fined a record total of £10.75 million (US$14.56 million) in March for historical breaches of the Premier League’s regulations after voluntarily reporting in 2022 that they had evidence of a potential breach of the rules relating to third-party payments... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3367092/tottenham-should-be-awarded-2017-premier-league-title-after-chelsea-broke-rules-pochettino?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3367092/tottenham-should-be-awarded-2017-premier-league-title-after-chelsea-broke-rules-pochettino?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:54:38 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press What could be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last chance to win a first AFC Champions League Elite title for his Saudi club will get under way next week. Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are one of five Saudi Pro League teams in the tournament. Combined, they have spent more than US$2 billion on foreign players since 2023, with Al-Ahli lifting the continental trophy in each of the past two seasons. Al-Ahli captain and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is hoping to make it three in a row in the 32-team tournament. “This is the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3367050/ronaldos-al-nassr-begin-afc-champions-league-bid-saudi-clubs-chase-3rd-straight-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3367050/ronaldos-al-nassr-begin-afc-champions-league-bid-saudi-clubs-chase-3rd-straight-title?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:00:14 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara He has a degree in accountancy but Tsang Chiu-tat can rarely have encountered a calculation as complex as the one of trying to help the Hong Kong under-23 team compete in this month’s Asian Games. Appointed in July after predecessor Darren Arnott quit to become Football Club head coach, Tsang will work with his full 23-man squad for the first time on the eve of next Wednesday’s opening fixture against hosts Japan in the 45,000-capacity Toyota Stadium. This week, those players in the city have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366816/asian-games-hong-kong-football-boss-left-little-time-prepare-japan-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366816/asian-games-hong-kong-football-boss-left-little-time-prepare-japan-test?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 04:00:17 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Chinese referee Ma Ning hopes to “pass the torch” to the next generation of football officials in the country, and encouraged them to show the world what they are capable of. Ma became only the second official from the mainland to take charge of a game at the Fifa World Cup when he oversaw Curacao’s goalless draw with Ecuador this summer – and the first to serve at two different tournaments. While he does not know if he would want to stand at a third, he said he would gladly do so if his country... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3366677/ma-ning-will-go-third-world-cup-if-asked-hopes-see-new-chinese-referees-emerge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3366677/ma-ning-will-go-third-world-cup-if-asked-hopes-see-new-chinese-referees-emerge?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:24 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Fifa president Gianni Infantino has arrived at the opening of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup as he faces continuing pressure since abandoning his plan to sell off World Cup profits. Infantino was seen in the stands speaking with Polish football federation president Cezary Kulesza as host nation Poland faced Argentina on the opening day of the tournament on Saturday. Infantino had mostly kept out of the spotlight in the weeks since his World Cup sell-off plan fell apart amid opposition from many... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366496/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-makes-appearance-under-20-womens-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366496/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-makes-appearance-under-20-womens-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:05:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A woman referee in South Korea will face a disciplinary hearing over accusations she insulted former Chelsea midfielder Ji So-yun by saying she was menstruating, the football association said on Friday. The inquiry will focus on an incident that saw the international booked after confronting the official during a domestic women’s league game between Ji’s Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall. It was sparked when Ji, a midfielder who is the top scorer for the South Korea national side, demanded a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366366/south-korean-football-referee-faces-hearing-over-using-period-insult-player?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366366/south-korean-football-referee-faces-hearing-over-using-period-insult-player?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:00:06 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara While the famously taciturn Football Association of Hong Kong, China is refusing to pick a side, elsewhere in Asia battle lines are being drawn between those that support Fifa president Gianni Infantino and those who want him kicked out of the game. With little more than two months to go before the deadline to nominate a challenger in next year’s election, a look at who stands where shows a region deeply divided, with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) aligning with its counterparts in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366214/house-divided-asia-still-split-infantinos-future-hkfa-wont-say-where-loyalties-lie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366214/house-divided-asia-still-split-infantinos-future-hkfa-wont-say-where-loyalties-lie?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Singapore will host a series of blockbuster football fixtures during the Fifa international window in November, including a World Cup rematch between Brazil and Japan, organisers announced on Thursday. The Mizuho Blue Challenge will also involve the hosts and Paraguay, with four matches taking place in the space of five days at the city’s National Stadium at The Kallang. Singapore will take on Paraguay in the opening fixture on November 13, with Japan and Brazil facing off a day later in a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366171/singapore-host-brazil-japan-paraguay-star-studded-football-festival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366171/singapore-host-brazil-japan-paraguay-star-studded-football-festival?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Sep 2026 02:43:57 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press English football flexed its unrivalled spending power by embarking on an unprecedented US$4.7 billion outlay on players in the summer transfer window — and Manchester City saved the biggest signing of the lot right to the very end. Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez became one of the most expensive players in the game’s history by completing a marquee move to City from Premier League rivals Chelsea for £125 million (US$169 million) in the final hours of the window that closed across Europe on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366042/fernandez-move-caps-premier-league-spending-spree-clubs-spend-us47bn-players?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366042/fernandez-move-caps-premier-league-spending-spree-clubs-spend-us47bn-players?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 02:29:33 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Reuters Agence France-Presse,Reuters Investor Joshua Kushner has blamed power struggles within global football for the outrage over Fifa’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, admitting his firm “would not have gotten involved” if it had anticipated the backlash. The first comments by venture capitalist Kushner – the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump – since the plan collapsed came on Monday, as European governing body Uefa prepares a criminal case against Fifa president Gianni Infantino. “While we... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366014/key-investor-kushner-blames-football-power-struggle-world-cup-plan-collapse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3366014/key-investor-kushner-blames-football-power-struggle-world-cup-plan-collapse?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:30:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse South Korea’s beleaguered football association on Tuesday appointed former Spain boss Robert Moreno as interim coach, following a disastrous World Cup and series of damaging controversies. Moreno, who was forced to deny earlier this year during a stint in Russia that he used ChatGPT to prepare for games, will be in charge for friendly games in September-October. South Korea will compete in the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365950/under-fire-south-korean-football-body-hires-ex-spain-boss-robert-moreno-interim-coach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365950/under-fire-south-korean-football-body-hires-ex-spain-boss-robert-moreno-interim-coach?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:30:06 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Against a backdrop of chaos in the domestic game, India’s national football team will at least have something to look forward to over the next couple of weeks – a trio of fixtures against World Cup winners and South American stars. While the Indian Super League stumbles towards what increasingly feels like another false start, football chiefs in the country have reportedly splashed out US$9.44 million (HK$74 million) to play Brazil, Uruguay and Panama in the coming international... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365883/india-line-brazil-uruguay-friendlies-domestic-football-chaos-continues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365883/india-line-brazil-uruguay-friendlies-domestic-football-chaos-continues?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Reuters Reuters Lionel Messi, who captained Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022 and the final in 2026, is retiring from international football, he ‌said on Monday. The record eight-times Ballon d’Or winner is his country’s record appearance-maker and scorer with 125 goals in 207 games, having transformed a complicated relationship with the national team into a story of redemption and triumph. “It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come,” the 39-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365891/lionel-messi-retires-argentinas-international-team?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365891/lionel-messi-retires-argentinas-international-team?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:19:37 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan China football officials have rushed to quash online rumours that men’s under-23 head coach Antonio Puche will be axed after the Asian Games no matter what his side does in Japan next month. Responding to rumours that the Spaniard would not have his contract renewed, officials from the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said that was “false information”, and hinted that he may be handed a bigger role. Speculation over Puche’s future came soon after former China men’s captain Li Weifeng used the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365741/china-football-bosses-deny-u23-coach-antonio-puche-faces-axe-after-asian-games-win-or-lose?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365741/china-football-bosses-deny-u23-coach-antonio-puche-faces-axe-after-asian-games-win-or-lose?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Aug 2026 07:44:03 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After a barren time in the Scottish Highlands that he called the “hardest year of my life”, James Scott has pitched up in Hong Kong aiming to “make a name for myself again”. Still only 25, and a former Scotland under-21 striker, Scott is a fine signing for Supreme Sha Tin, the club that drew the fifth-largest turnout of the 12-year Hong Kong Premier League era on Friday. A whopping 4,592 crowd turned out for their Mong Kok Stadium clash with Lee Man, although a 3-0 defeat was not in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365713/james-scott-scotland-star-who-once-infuriated-celtic-out-reboot-career-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365713/james-scott-scotland-star-who-once-infuriated-celtic-out-reboot-career-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Football in China is being run by people without the skill to do so, as those with talent sit on the sidelines, former international Li Weifeng has said in a withering assessment of the game in the country. Speaking during a live stream on social media, Li, who stopped playing in 2015, said the decision to axe head coach Bora Milutinovic, who guided China to their only Fifa World Cup appearance to date in Japan and South Korea in 2002, was a classic case in point. Rather than being rewarded with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365706/chinese-football-run-people-wrong-skills-talented-ones-miss-out-li-weifeng-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365706/chinese-football-run-people-wrong-skills-talented-ones-miss-out-li-weifeng-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Aug 2026 10:06:00 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Uefa is preparing a criminal complaint against Fifa president Gianni Infantino in Swiss courts for possible financial mismanagement over his failed plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. Uefa said on Thursday it filed documents in a Manhattan court requesting discovery of potential evidence from the New York investment fund, Thrive Capital Management, founded by Joshua Kushner. Uefa also filed a request in a southern Florida district for authorisation of discovery “in a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365501/uefa-targets-infantino-criminal-complaint-over-failed-world-cup-investor-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365501/uefa-targets-infantino-criminal-complaint-over-failed-world-cup-investor-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:41:22 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Soon after he joined the Hong Kong football association 2½ years ago, the now outgoing technical director John Morling pointed to the success of Croatia and asked, “why can’t that be us?” With a population just shy of 4 million, Croatia have reached one World Cup final and two semi-finals in the past 28 years. Now, Davor Suker, one of the stars of their 1998 run to the last four, is poised to share some of his country’s secrets with Hong Kong: population 7 million, world No 156 and as far away... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365495/infantino-doing-great-job-world-cup-star-suker-says-tells-hong-kong-be-more-croatia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365495/infantino-doing-great-job-world-cup-star-suker-says-tells-hong-kong-be-more-croatia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:05:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A record number of Japanese players are in the Premier League this season, with clubs attracted by their proven quality, value for money and the “very little risk” involved in signing them. Ten players from Japan were registered with top-tier English teams when the campaign kicked off last weekend and more are potentially on the way before the transfer window closes. Zion Suzuki was the highest-profile arrival with his switch to Aston Villa, with former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365273/high-quality-low-risk-reason-premier-league-clubs-are-buying-japanese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365273/high-quality-low-risk-reason-premier-league-clubs-are-buying-japanese?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Aug 2026 04:05:06 +0000 Reuters Reuters A group of former international players, including World Cup winners and Fifa legends, called on Monday for immediate change at world football’s governing body, saying its leadership under embattled president Gianni Infantino had been blinded by power. Infantino has been under mounting pressure to resign after shelving his proposal to create a commercial body for Fifa tournament rights and sell off 20 per cent to private investors. “We share the exact same ⁠concerns as the millions of fans... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365208/we-will-be-silent-no-more-former-players-call-change-fifa-amid-infantino-power-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365208/we-will-be-silent-no-more-former-players-call-change-fifa-amid-infantino-power-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:00:09 +0000 dpa dpa The football with which Diego Maradona scored his “Hand of God” goal against England at the 1986 World Cup has sold at auction for US$3.35 million. The sale price achieved by Heritage Auctions in the United States was around US$6.7 million below the US$10 million estimate. The Dallas-based auction house had placed a US$2.5 million starting price on the Adidas Azteca ball. Maradona scored twice in Argentina’s quarter-final victory over England on June 22, 1986 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. He... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365110/diego-maradonas-hand-god-football-sells-us335-million-us-auction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365110/diego-maradonas-hand-god-football-sells-us335-million-us-auction?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 18:01:59 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Darren Arnott likens the ongoing challenge for Football Club to that of someone “hanging on to a cliff and trying to pull themselves up”. When they lost their grip on the precipice last season, local football chiefs handily provided a safety net, sparing the Hong Kong Premier Division’s bottom team from relegation to the First Division. Having finished dead last in the previous campaign, too, they are unlikely to get lucky a third time. Boasting a slim budget and, as a members’ club, confronted... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365095/hong-kong-football-clubs-faith-world-class-ex-premier-league-coach-inspire-upturn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365095/hong-kong-football-clubs-faith-world-class-ex-premier-league-coach-inspire-upturn?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Kitchee have sprinkled more stardust on the local Premier League after confirming the signing of free-agent former Spain under-21 midfielder Victor Camarasa. A spectator from the stands as Kitchee began their Hong Kong title defence with a 3-2 victory at BC Rangers on Saturday, Camarasa played 31 games in the English Premier League during a season-long loan with Cardiff City in 2018-19. The 32-year-old, who joins Asier Illarramendi, the ex-Spain and Real Madrid midfielder, on the books of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365086/former-spain-under-21-player-joins-kitchee-hong-kong-league-gets-more-stardust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365086/former-spain-under-21-player-joins-kitchee-hong-kong-league-gets-more-stardust?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:05:50 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang In a chaotic day in the Chinese Super League (CSL) on Saturday, disgruntled Wuhan Three Towns fans directed their anger over their club’s possible relegation at the visiting team’s supporters’ bus, while the sudden death of a spectator sparked widespread debate about medical equipment at stadiums. Off-field chaos erupted following a crucial relegation match between Wuhan and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger that ended in a 0-0 draw despite Wuhan having 28 shots. Frustrated as their club remained deep in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3365067/angry-chinese-super-league-fans-attack-visiting-team-bus-and-make-racist-offensive-gestures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3365067/angry-chinese-super-league-fans-attack-visiting-team-bus-and-make-racist-offensive-gestures?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:00:21 +0000 Reuters Reuters Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin ruled himself out of running for the Fifa presidency but said Gianni ⁠Infantino would likely face a ⁠challenger if he seeks re-election next year following ⁠a global backlash over a plan to sell part of the World Cup to private investors. Speaking to The Rest Is Politics: Leading podcast, which will air on Monday, Ceferin said he was not interested in succeeding Infantino despite growing uncertainty around the Fifa president’s future after his abandoned... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365009/uefa-chief-ceferin-rules-out-fifa-presidency-bid-claims-infantino-could-face-challenger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3365009/uefa-chief-ceferin-rules-out-fifa-presidency-bid-claims-infantino-could-face-challenger?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Nearly two years into his role as the Premier League chief in China, Jay Li admitted it has been an eye-opening experience seeing how Chinese fans follow the world’s most-watched football league compared to those in the United Kingdom. Since the opening of the Premier League’s Beijing office in October 2024, Li, managing director of Premier League China, told the South China Morning Post that his team has discovered something “unfathomable” after operating in the country among the fans. “I’ve... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364919/unfathomable-united-kingdom-china-premier-league-chief-evolving-fandom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364919/unfathomable-united-kingdom-china-premier-league-chief-evolving-fandom?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang The Chinese Football Professional League (CPL) has stepped up its fight against unruly fans by officially warning Shanghai Shenhua after supporters harassed a young boy after the match against Beijing Guoan. The CPL came down harder on Guoan for their fans’ behaviour, fining and cutting their away-fan seating allocations after supporters wore clothing with offensive language at the same match. The controversy erupted after a rescheduled Chinese Super League match between the two sides earlier... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364916/shanghai-shenhua-beijing-guoan-hit-cpl-sanctions-after-wu-lei-jersey-fan-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364916/shanghai-shenhua-beijing-guoan-hit-cpl-sanctions-after-wu-lei-jersey-fan-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2026 08:45:37 +0000 Reuters Reuters Argentina’s Leandro Paredes ⁠received a 10-match suspension ⁠for his part in a brawl ⁠after his team lost to Spain in the World Cup final while teammate Nahuel Molina was suspended for seven games, Fifa announced on Friday. A brief scuffle erupted at the final whistle when Argentina midfielder Paredes shoved Spain’s Gavi to the ground ‌as the European champions’ substitutes rushed onto the pitch to celebrate. Paredes faced three assault counts while Molina faced two. Both players were also fined... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364897/leandro-paredes-banned-10-games-after-world-cup-final-fracas-argentina-fined?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364897/leandro-paredes-banned-10-games-after-world-cup-final-fracas-argentina-fined?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2026 03:39:47 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang The sports empire created by Hui Ka-yan has crumbled, changed hands or struggled to survive alongside the downfall of China Evergrande Group. On Thursday, the former tycoon and controlling shareholder of Evergrande was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court for multiple offences. It brought an end to an era for the real estate giant he founded 30 years ago in Guangzhou, sealing a collapse that inevitably engulfed the sports empire built on its fortunes. Hui... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3364885/demise-hui-ka-yans-china-evergrande-group-engulfs-sports-empire-built-its-fortunes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3364885/demise-hui-ka-yans-china-evergrande-group-engulfs-sports-empire-built-its-fortunes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:03:47 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Kitchee will begin their title defence away at BC Rangers on Saturday, while intriguing newcomers Supreme Sha Tin go to Eastern on Friday night, as the Hong Kong Premier League campaign gets under way this weekend. It is all change again, with the championship and challenge rounds introduced last term replaced by a regular home and away calendar. We are up to 11 clubs, with Supreme promoted and 2025-26 basement dwellers Football Club given a mulligan. Six teams will begin the season under new... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364855/hong-kong-premier-league-kitchee-fend-lee-man-and-rule-again-shock-relegation-tip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364855/hong-kong-premier-league-kitchee-fend-lee-man-and-rule-again-shock-relegation-tip?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:20:13 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Armed with glamorous pop-star ambassadors, a multimillionaire owner and player, and plans to mobilise their roughly 700,000-strong community, Supreme Sha Tin are an audacious new addition to the Hong Kong Premier League. Still, this being local football, very little about the club’s elevation has been straightforward. Racing to get their stadium up to snuff, they will begin their campaign housed at the rudimentary Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground; not a natural home for the glitzy live “Cantonese... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364724/pop-star-glamour-and-plans-unite-sha-tin-newcomers-shaking-hong-kong-football?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364724/pop-star-glamour-and-plans-unite-sha-tin-newcomers-shaking-hong-kong-football?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Reuters Reuters The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has reiterated its concerns over the lack of consultation with members before the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) signed an open letter with Uefa and Concacaf criticising Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Infantino, who is seeking re-election next year, has faced open revolt after the letter attacked his conduct over the aborted bid to bring private investment into ‌the World Cup and called into question his leadership. In the third letter in a testy... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364703/qatar-football-association-challenges-afc-over-lack-consultation-fifa-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364703/qatar-football-association-challenges-afc-over-lack-consultation-fifa-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:00:06 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang The familiar drumbeats and chants may be absent from the stands when Shanghai Shenhua face Shandong Taishan next week, after several diehard fan groups announced a suspension of cheering activities. The announcements followed a Shanghai police report on Wednesday night confirming that three Shenhua fans had been placed under administrative detention for cornering and verbally abusing a young boy and his father outside the stadium. The child was targeted for wearing a national team No 7 jersey... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364677/shanghai-shenhua-fans-halt-cheering-after-case-boy-abused-wearing-wu-lei-jersey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364677/shanghai-shenhua-fans-halt-cheering-after-case-boy-abused-wearing-wu-lei-jersey?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:30:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Lionel Messi scored his first goal since his father’s death but Inter Miami had to settle for a 2-2 Major League Soccer draw on Thursday against Philadelphia Union. The Argentine superstar gave Miami a 2-1 lead in the 26th minute with a trademark curling left-footed shot into the far corner. After a restrained celebration with teammates, in which he allowed himself a brief smile, Messi pointed towards the sky over Philadelphia. Messi had been instrumental in Miami’s first goal five minutes... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364649/lionel-messi-nets-inter-miamis-philadelphia-draw-first-goal-fathers-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364649/lionel-messi-nets-inter-miamis-philadelphia-draw-first-goal-fathers-death?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Aug 2026 05:09:58 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Chinese international star Wu Lei has come to the defence of a young football fan harassed by rival supporters, taking to social media to track down the boy who was targeted outside the stadium simply for wearing his national team jersey. The incident occurred on Tuesday night after Shanghai Shenhua suffered a 3-0 home defeat against Beijing Guoan in a rescheduled Chinese Super League match. Following the game, the young supporter, wearing Wu’s No 7 national team shirt, was leaving Shanghai... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364563/footballer-wu-lei-defends-boy-abused-rival-fans-while-wearing-his-no-7-china-jersey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364563/footballer-wu-lei-defends-boy-abused-rival-fans-while-wearing-his-no-7-china-jersey?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:00:23 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Visiting Hong Kong this month with his former club Juventus, Lilian Thuram tackled the subject of racism in football. A World Cup winner for France, Thuram has his own eponymous foundation to educate people about racism, and has authored books on the topic. “When I was a child it was a problem, now my children [professional footballers Marcus and Khephren] have the same problem,” Thuram told the South China Morning Post. “Probably, nobody has managed to find a way to solve it.” During the recent... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364455/zion-suzuki-asian-cup-racism-world-cup-star-and-premier-league-history-man?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364455/zion-suzuki-asian-cup-racism-world-cup-star-and-premier-league-history-man?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:06:34 +0000 Reuters Reuters Human rights organisation FairSquare has urged Fifa to rule that Gianni Infantino is ineligible to seek another term as president, arguing he has already served the maximum three terms permitted under the body’s statutes. Fifa presidents are limited to three terms in office. However, in 2022 Infantino successfully argued ‌that his first spell in charge, which began when he was elected at an Extraordinary Congress in 2016 following Sepp Blatter’s resignation, should not count towards that limit... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364403/gianni-infantino-not-eligible-third-term-fifa-president-human-rights-body-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364403/gianni-infantino-not-eligible-third-term-fifa-president-human-rights-body-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Aug 2026 07:09:35 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Frenchman Kevin Lamour has left his role as Fifa’s chief operating officer after criticising president Gianni Infantino’s scrapped private investor plan, world football’s governing body has confirmed. Lamour was the third highest-ranking Fifa official. “Fifa can confirm that the working relationship between Fifa and Kevin Lamour as Fifa’s chief operating officer has ended on August 17, 2026,” a Fifa spokesperson told AFP, confirming a report in The Athletic. “Fifa thanks Kevin for his two years... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364355/top-fifa-official-sacked-after-slamming-gianni-infantino-world-cup-plot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364355/top-fifa-official-sacked-after-slamming-gianni-infantino-world-cup-plot?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Aug 2026 02:01:25 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara When Manchester United told their 66 million Instagram followers on Saturday they had lost 4-2 to AC Milan, the responses were pretty unequivocal. The kinder supporters wrote about a “reality check”, or implored the club’s deeply unpopular owners to put their hands in their pockets. In one case, the Glazers and their co-owner, Jim Ratcliffe, were told to “sell the whole team”. Others used terms like “disgrace”, “disaster”, “embarrassing” and “terrible”. “We are cooked, [head coach, Michael]... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364305/manchester-united-can-handle-pressure-bid-end-torturous-premier-league-wait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364305/manchester-united-can-handle-pressure-bid-end-torturous-premier-league-wait?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Recent evidence would suggest that among the young Manchester United players in Hong Kong this week, at least one is on a fast track to the top. It was only two years ago, after all, that a 13-year-old JJ Gabriel came to the city and scored twice in a pair of victories for his United team. Now 15, Gabriel made his first senior team outing in a 2-1 friendly victory over Atletico Madrid earlier this month. Although still noteworthy, Gabriel’s age attracted far less broad comment than it might have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364209/kids-are-all-right-english-premier-leagues-youthful-heroes-shining-among-games-elite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364209/kids-are-all-right-english-premier-leagues-youthful-heroes-shining-among-games-elite?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Aston Villa were said to have had their noses knocked out of joint when they had to train at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground last week, while Liverpool were not particularly enamoured when fans could peer into the exposed venue to watch them practice 12 months ago. Moreover, the 5,000-capacity arena, dwarfed by the adjacent Kai Tak Stadium, has proved a hard sell locally, with no tenant obtained since it opened in March last year. Kitchee, the Hong Kong Premier League champions, understandably... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364148/kowloon-city-eye-move-kai-tak-ambitions-attract-new-audience-build-brand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364148/kowloon-city-eye-move-kai-tak-ambitions-attract-new-audience-build-brand?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Aug 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press South Korea’s Pro Footballers Association is calling on the K League to overhaul the domestic season to avoid playing during the height of summer, as local temperatures reached record highs in August. “The K League must transition to the Fall-Spring schedule to protect players from the worsening climate crisis and punishing summer heat,” the KPFA said in a statement this week, “and to maintain the league’s leadership within Asia and its global competitiveness.” Earlier this month, the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364036/south-korea-players-wilt-punishing-summer-heat-push-shift-k-league-season?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3364036/south-korea-players-wilt-punishing-summer-heat-push-shift-k-league-season?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:00:09 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After swapping the English Premier League for its Hong Kong equivalent, Balraj Landa is up for the challenge of “surviving by myself on the other side of the world”. Released by AFC Bournemouth in February, Landa has joined Southern for the new campaign, via stints with non-league sides Salisbury City and Dorchester Town. Alerted to the possibility of a move by Zesh Rehman, the ex-Fulham defender and former player-manager of Southern, Landa said the “decision to come was a no-brainer”. “My first... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3363911/english-premier-league-hong-kong-new-southern-stars-surviving-other-side-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3363911/english-premier-league-hong-kong-new-southern-stars-surviving-other-side-world?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:00:12 +0000