Supporters cheer for the Hong Kong team in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers match between Hong Kong and Bangladesh, at Kai Tak Stadium, on October 14. -- Photo: Sam Tsang / SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
HONG KONG (SCMP): The rivalry between Hong Kong and Singapore over everything, it seems, from attracting talent, tourists, and even Taylor Swift, will hit new heights this week.
Disputes about which is best, for food, finance or culture, are not easy to resolve. But when it comes to football, there is always a result. Teams representing the two cities face off at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday (Nov 18).
Only one of the two sides can qualify for the prestigious Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia in 2027. The eagerly awaited contest will prove decisive if either team emerges victorious. No self-respecting Hong Kong football fan would want to miss the match. No wonder seats at the 50,000-capacity stadium sold out in just 77 minutes.
But many supporters were left fuming after being left without a ticket, despite determined attempts to buy them online. To make matters worse, coveted seats swiftly appeared on resale platforms at much higher prices.
The backlash from fans, who branded the ticket sale process unfair and chaotic, has shone the spotlight on the city’s long-standing problem with scalping. Action needs to be taken.
Hong Kong’s footballers have not always enjoyed sell-out crowds cheering them on. It is a new, and very welcome, experience. In the past, at the old 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium, the attendance was usually below 10,000. The average turnout at premier league matches this season is only 826.
But the opening of the flagship Kai Tak Stadium in March, combined with good performances from the Hong Kong team, have led to a surge in interest. Demand for tickets to see competitive matches at the new venue has soared. The team was roared on by a crowd of 42,000 for an Asian Cup qualifying match against India in June, spurring the players on to victory. More than 45,000 attended the next group home game against Bangladesh, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
But the Singapore game has taken Hong Kong’s football fever to another level. Even residents who don’t usually take an interest in football want to watch. The match will be hotly contested. The two teams are locked on eight points at the top of the group. They played out a goalless draw in Singapore in March. Hong Kong made it to the finals in Qatar in 2023 for the first time in 55 years. Repeating the feat this time is critical for the development of the sport in the city.
There is also an opportunity to capitalise on the new-found enthusiasm for the team and to harness it in a way that brings wider benefits. That is why it is so important to ensure arrangements for matches are smooth and fans well cared for.
Real-name registration, an effective means of combating scalping, was used for the city’s match against Bangladesh, but only because the Football Association of Hong Kong, China entered ticket holders for a prize draw to win a car.
The requirement was abandoned for the Singapore game and Charles Cheung Yim-yau, the governing body’s general secretary, admitted it had “no measures” to tackle the resale of tickets at inflated prices. Some of those for the Singapore game were offered for resale at almost 17 times the fixed price.
Cheung expressed concern that the use of real-name ticketing for Tuesday’s match might have caused delays for fans entering the stadium, saying it would be a big issue if 20,000 were stuck outside. But that did not happen with the Bangladesh match, despite the high attendance. Cheung also said controlling scalping was not the HKFA’s responsibility and that fans without tickets could watch live broadcasts instead. As dedicated football fans know, the experience of watching a match live is totally different to viewing it on a screen. You feel you are a participant, rather than a spectator.
Curbing scalping is not the sole responsibility of the HKFA. But it is a problem that persists for sports fans, concertgoers and those wishing to attend other events with high demand.
Many are left with a choice between missing out or forking out for touted tickets at outrageous prices. There is a need for event organisers, sports associations and the government to work together to restrict it.
The hiking of prices for events at private licensed venues is forbidden by the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance, first enacted in 1919.
In its original form, the legislation covered, among other venues, those offering conjuring and juggling, acrobatics and boxing. The law has been amended many times, with “any sporting exhibition or contest” added in 1951. But the legislation was clearly intended to tackle traditional ticket touting in person at or around the venues. It is not designed for the digital age.
The fine for scalping, after a summary conviction, is only HK$2,000 and has been at that level for more than 70 years. Today’s ticket touts often belong to syndicates who use bots to snap up seats sold online. It is a multimillion-dollar enterprise globally. The desultory fine in Hong Kong is barely a deterrent at all.
Britain expressly outlaws the unauthorised sale of football tickets, including online. A breach carries a fine of up to £5,000 (HK$51,110).
The Hong Kong law covers Kai Tak Sports Park, but not venues run by the government such as Hong Kong Stadium or Hong Kong Coliseum.
There is an urgent need to update and strengthen the city’s laws to tackle scalping. The view that ticket touts are enterprising individuals maximising the benefits of Hong Kong’s free market is not consistent with the city’s coveted image as a leading international host of “mega-events”.
Beyond laws, there is a need for a sophisticated approach to ticket sales. The Hong Kong rugby sevens tournament used real-name ticketing, but allowed a limited number of transfers that were tracked. This provided flexibility. Real names are also required for National Games tickets.
The HKFA is, understandably, anxious not to introduce restrictions that might deter supporters from attending matches, given the importance of driving up attendances. But the fans should not be left dispirited and angry because much-desired tickets have been taken by touts. There is a need to explore real-name ticketing, membership and loyalty schemes, as well as ballots, if necessary, when a sell-out is guaranteed.
The fans who attend on Tuesday will enjoy the special Kai Tak atmosphere. Long may that continue. Those who missed out will hopefully be able to console themselves with a victory and book tickets for the finals. Come on Hong Kong! -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
