Hong Kong’s Juventus fan club banned for violating rules including showing political stance
- Fellow supporters groups report fan club for political posts on social media during city’s protests
- Change their name from ‘official’ to ‘officious’ after repeated warnings by Serie A giants
The official Juventus fan club in Hong Kong has been banned by the Italian Serie A side after it was accused of violating their rules, including supporting the anti-government protests that took place in the city from the middle of last year.
The fan club said on its Facebook page that it has changed its name to Juventus “officious” fan club as it had been repeatedly warned by the Italian football giants before being stripped of its official title.
“It first came last year when the [fan] club voiced out our views on the social situation of Hong Kong, putting up announcements, posts and petitions, but these actions were reported to Juventus by a number of our fellow fan clubs in Hong Kong,” the club said.
“Subsequently, we received warnings from Juventus saying our behaviours had violated the rules and asked us to delete the related posts.
“Recently we planned to organise an exhibition in Hong Kong for goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and set up a local membership subscription scheme to raise the required funding.
“Again, the plan was reported by some others and Juventus said the scheme is profit making and has violated the rules. Since we have accumulated many warnings, they decide to stop our operation.”
Hong Kong football supporters’ clubs ask serving police officers to leave
The fan club, which has been running in Hong Kong for six years, have around 1,000 members.
They defended their political stance saying the core part of the fan club would be Hong Kong citizens and there is no way they could choose to ignore social issues that have affected their daily lives, as politics is everywhere as long as there are people.
“There have been many players and clubs that are supporting the Black Lives Matter campaign and isn’t it politics? Juventus also suffered from the ‘telephone gate’ scandal 14 years ago, isn’t it politics? In the end, profit always comes first rather than principles and justice,” the fan club said.
This is not the first football fan club of a European side in Hong Kong to become involved in politics since the beginning of last year’s social protest movement.
In September last year, Chelsea FC Supporters Club Hong Kong asked serving police officers to return their membership cards, although it said this was not politically motivated, rather it was driven by a desire to ensure the safety and comfort of members.
Another EPL Premier League side Arsenal’s supporters club in Hong Kong had the same request as they would no longer accept new memberships from police officers and asked any existing members in the police to leave.
Valencia of La Liga and Italian Serie A side Parma’s supporters clubs followed suit.
