Hong Kong’s women withdraw from Dubai football event, jockey Teetan eyes quick return
Pink Ladies Cup began last week and city’s women had been due to face Tanzania on Wednesday and Russia two days later
Hong Kong’s women have withdrawn from the football Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai and will return home as soon as possible, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.
The team, who arrived in the United Arab Emirates last week and lost 4-0 to Ghana on Saturday, had been expected to play Tanzania on Wednesday before wrapping up the four-team tournament against Russia two days later.
On Tuesday, the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) said it had formally notified tournament organisers that the team would withdraw, adding its players and staff would not be leaving their hotel.
“Due to the continuously tense situation in the Middle East, the HKFA has formally written to the organisers of the Pink Ladies Cup 2026 that the Hong Kong, China Women’s Representative Team will withdraw from the tournament and will not participate in the remaining matches, with the safety of staff and players as the top priority,” the HKFA said in a statement.
In a video published by the association, captain Ma Chak-shun said that while the team “finished the first match on Saturday, today [Sunday] we stayed in the hotel doing fitness because of safety concerns”.
Ma said the team had been helped by Hong Kong’s Immigration Department and thanked everyone for their concern and support. She reminded fans in affected regions to take care of their own safety.