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Hong Kong Football Association to lobby Fifa over player passport issue

Chief executive Mark Sutcliffe says he will first approach governing body before discussing sporting exemptions with the government in a bid to maximise the talent available for HK

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Hong Kong Football Association Chief Executive Mark Sutcliffe is trying to increase the talent pool for the national squad. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong will ask Fifa for dispensation so non-Chinese permanent residents can use their permanent ID card as proof of nationality rather than an SAR passport, says leading official Mark Sutcliffe.

Hong Kong Football Association chief executive Sutcliffe said if this step failed, he would then lobby the Hong Kong Immigration Department to provide special “sporting passports”.
I will speak to the AFC legal adviser about the best way to lobby Fifa
Mark Sutcliffe

The HKFA, which is trying to raise the game’s standards, is stymied on the national front as many foreign-born players cannot represent Hong Kong as they don’t have a local passport, despite living in the city for more than seven years and holding a valid permanent identity card. Hong Kong are ranked 167th in the world, almost touching the lowest 170th placing in 2011.

Sutcliffe, who is attending this week’s Asian Football Confederation Congress in Bahrain, will meet AFC legal officers first before taking the unprecedented step of asking Fifa to treat Hong Kong as a special case by granting these privileges.
Hong Kong's 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign kicks off on June 11. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong's 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign kicks off on June 11. Photo: Nora Tam
“I will speak to the AFC legal adviser about the best way possible to handle this situation and get their support to help me lobby Fifa,” Sutcliffe said. “I will then approach Fifa with a request for dispensation for Hong Kong so that players with a permanent ID card can play.

“We want the ID card as proof of nationality rather than a SAR passport. If this fails, I will lobby our Immigration Department about special ‘sporting passports’,” Sutcliffe said.

The HKFA is also keeping a close watch on developments on the mainland regarding dual nationality vis-à-vis the national soccer team.

We want the ID card as proof of nationality rather than a SAR passport
Mark Sutcliffe
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