Singapore minister apologises to Hong Kong government after football ‘idiots’ insult
David Neo privately messages Rosanna Law Shuk-pui to say sorry for disparaging remarks about city football team’s fans and players
David Neo, the acting Singapore sports minister, has privately apologised to the Hong Kong government after he was captured on camera labelling the city’s football players and fans “idiots” following this week’s Asian Cup qualifier at Kai Tak Stadium.
Singapore won 2-1 to reach the 2027 finals at the expense of Hong Kong.
An Instagram live stream from one of the visiting players’ accounts showed Neo, the city state’s acting minister for culture, community and youth, telling a jubilant away dressing room: “It was fantastic … you kena [Malay for hit] pressured by them, all the fans were bloody idiots, end up players also played like idiots [sic] … But you all played like lions.”
Appointed to parliament in May, Neo quickly responded to an Instagram user who had called his comments “out of order”, although he stopped short of apologising.
“Indeed I probably should have been more respectful,” he said. “I take back what I said. The Hong Kong team were really tough and their fans were fully behind them. That’s something we should respect, and let’s also get behind our Lions.”
Nonetheless, Neo has privately said sorry to Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, the Hong Kong sports minister, according to a spokeswoman for the government’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau.