September 4 – Hundreds of paramilitary and riot police were deployed in and around the stadium in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen on Thursday as China and Hong Kong squared off for a politically sensitive World Cup qualifier.
The 0-0 draw produced no trouble but sparked wild celebrations from 2,000 or so Hong Kong fans who had made the journey.
“We’ve faced so much pressure from China over the past year. This is the only way we can release some of our anger, on the sports field,” Roy Choi, a fan with a group calling itself “Power for Hong Kong” was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Protesters blocked Hong Kong’s main streets for months last year during the “Occupy Central” protests, calling for meaningful democracy for the former British colony in the vote for its next leader in 2017. China has allowed a direct vote, but only from among pro-Beijing candidates.
Thursday’s high security was put in place after Hong Kong supporters jeered the Chinese national anthem during two previous qualifiers as Hong Kong protestors vented their grievances against the mainland.