Hong Kong's Kitchee Football Club has made an exciting addition to their team with the signing of former Blackburn Rovers defender, Jay Haddow. Haddow, who holds dual British and Japanese nationality, has returned to his boyhood club in Hong Kong after facing challenges during his time at Blackburn Rovers. He has signed a one-year contract with Kitchee and will be counted as a foreign player. Haddow is undecided about acquiring a Hong Kong passport to be eligible for the representative team, but he is determined to do well for Hong Kong in the Asian Champions League. Kitchee, the deposed champions, are eager to recruit young talent and regain their position at the top of the league [2f08e3fd].
Haddow's decision to join Kitchee comes after a challenging two years at Blackburn Rovers, where he experienced a lack of communication and a lack of clear pathway for his development. Despite the difficulties, Haddow is grateful for his time in the UK and is committed to pursuing a career in football. His close friend, Adam Wharton, has been supportive and helpful throughout his journey [2f08e3fd].
In addition to Haddow's arrival, Hong Kong football is currently facing a crisis due to a match-fixing scandal. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has charged three individuals, including a head coach and a player from two Hong Kong Premier League football teams, in connection with the alleged match-fixing scandal. The trio were among the 12 players and coaches arrested in the ICAC operation last month for allegedly fixing matches and placing illegal bets on games over the course of three seasons [1c5eff91] [65c56b1a].
Furthermore, the resignation of Jorn Andersen, the highly regarded head coach of the men's national team, has dealt another blow to Hong Kong football. Andersen, a Norwegian coach, led the team to their first Asian Cup finals in 56 years and has been credited with revitalizing the team since taking charge in December 2021. His departure is deeply disappointing for the sport [ffd25bcf].
To overcome these challenges and revive the sport, there is a growing consensus that Hong Kong football needs better promotion and marketing. The sport must be able to attract more attention and support from the public. There are calls for a game changer to kick-start the revival of Hong Kong football, with the aim of providing a better experience for the city's fans [65c56b1a].
Meanwhile, in Malaysia, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, is set to meet with Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to settle the matter regarding the punishments imposed on Selangor football club. The Sultan expressed his disappointment at Hamidin for not speaking out against the punishments. Selangor had withdrawn from a game due to security concerns after one of their players was injured in an acid attack. The punishments initially included a fine, compensation, a three-point deduction, and playing a match in an empty stadium. However, the Malaysian Football League (MFL) later reduced the fine and canceled the three-point deduction. AFC secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor John Paul believes that the meeting between Hamidin and the Sultan is a good start to settle the matter and hopes it will lead to a resolution and clear the air over the issue [196a3528].