Hong Kong football event rejects emotional appeal to accept school’s late sign-up

A major interschool football competition in Hong Kong has rejected an emotional plea from an institution’s principal for his students to take part, with the organiser citing a need to keep the contest fair.

The Education Bureau said late on Saturday it was investigating the matter to determine whether any teacher negligence or inappropriate handling by the school was involved.

The principal of Ma On Shan’s Yan Chai Hospital Tung Chi Ying Memorial Secondary School, a long-time annual contest champion, earlier appealed for discretionary consideration and said this year’s sign-up deadline had been missed due to “management negligence”.

The Schools Sports Federation of Hong Kong, China said on Saturday that it had held a special meeting the day before to discuss whether to accept the late submission to the interschool event, inviting the principal and physical education head from the latter to explain the matter.

“After our discussion and taking reference from similar cases in the past, it was unanimously decided that the late enrolment of [the school] will not be accepted,” it said.

“The federation, as the organiser, has to take into account all member schools and make comprehensive consideration. At the same time, the fairness of the competition system has to be maintained.”