FC Barcelona ‘signed’ to play in Hong Kong – but ‘unsent email’ row pauses venue talks
Organiser disputes Kai Tak Sports Park’s version of events after reports that application form was not returned
Plans for a summer visit to Hong Kong by Spanish football giants Barcelona remained up in the air early on Friday after an apparent misunderstanding over an email.
The visit’s organiser, Winman Advertising and Entertainment Group, said on Wednesday its request in early December to use the new 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium on July 27 had been declined.
Local media then quoted a Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) spokeswoman as saying the park received a request for Barcelona to play there, but not the further information and application form it requested in late December.
That drew a furious denial on Thursday from Winman’s CEO Edwin Wong Ho-ting, who said park officials had admitted the email containing their request for that paperwork had not been delivered.
Barcelona have agreed to play in the city, according to Wong – but it is reliant on Kai Tak Stadium or Hong Kong Stadium being available.
Late on Thursday, KTSP declined to comment further after Wong told the Post he “cannot work with Kai Tak any more” as a result of the mix-up. Wong said that KTSP had refused the initial proposal because the venue was already booked on July 27.