Three Arrested for Disrespecting National Anthem at Hong Kong World Cup Qualifier

Three Arrested for Disrespecting National Anthem at Hong Kong World Cup Qualifier

Three individuals were arrested for turning their backs and remaining seated during China’s national anthem at Hong Kong’s home World Cup qualifier against Iran, police reported on Friday.

Historically, football fans in Hong Kong booed the national anthem as a form of political protest, but the government banned this practice in 2020 amid a broader crackdown following major pro-democracy demonstrations in the city.

At Hong Kong Stadium on Thursday, police stated that two men and a woman were arrested for “turning their backs toward the pitch and not standing during the national anthem.”

“Police emphasized that anyone who publicly and intentionally insults the national anthem commits a crime,” the statement read.

The arrested individuals, aged between 18 and 31, face up to three years in prison and a fine of HK$50,000 ($6,400) if convicted.

Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, competes under its own name in various international sports, including football. Despite this, its bid to advance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers was already over, and the team lost 4-2 to Iran.

During the politically turbulent 2010s, the Hong Kong team symbolized civic pride and occasional anti-government sentiment, with the Chinese national anthem frequently met with boos at matches, angering officials in both Hong Kong and mainland China.

Following the imposition of a sweeping national security law by Beijing in 2020, Hong Kong passed a local law criminalizing insults toward the anthem.