FIFA has officially warned Hong Kong football fans against booing the Chinese national anthem before matches.
In a letter to the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA), FIFA wrote: “the spectators shall respect at all times the principles of fair play. In particular, those principles shall apply towards not only the opposing association and its representative team but also towards your own.”
FIFA’s warning came after Hong Kong spectators booed the Chinese national anthem, March of the Volunteers, before the start of two Preliminary Competition matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in June.
The song has been Hong Kong’s national anthem since its return to China in 1997.
Details of the warning letter were not revealed until HKFA posted a statement on its official website on Friday. HKFA further warned fans that improper conduct may lead to disqualification of the football team from the game.
Hong Kong’s next match is scheduled against the Chinese mainland on September 3.
