Hong Kong, June 13, 2003 – Liverpool Football Club today confirmed they will play in Hong Kong this summer, providing a tremendous boost to both Hong Kong fans and the international sports scene here.
The Worthington Cup holders have made good their promise to play in Hong Kong on July 27, in an eagerly awaited match that will act as part of the Club’s build up to the 2003-2004 English Premiership season.
Commented Liverpool team boss, Gerard Houllier, ‘The whole team is really looking forward to playing in Hong Kong. After all the problems with SARS, we are delighted to be able to give our fans in Hong Kong something truly spectacular to look forward to.’
The match is being organized by sports marketing specialists IMG and will be hosted by the Hong Kong Football Association. Although many sporting and other events scheduled for Hong Kong have been cancelled, the final decision for the Liverpool match was left as late as possible so as not to disappoint the Club’s legion of local supporters.
‘I am sure Hong Kong fans will be thrilled to know that Liverpool will play in Hong Kong after all. This will be a boost for everyone in Hong Kong, whether they are football fans or not,’ said Malcolm Thorpe, Senior International Vice President of IMG.
Hong Kong Football Association President, Timothy Fok, also hailed the decision. ‘Confirmation of the match will do a great deal towards helping put Hong Kong back on the map of international sports. We and the entire sports community in Hong Kong welcome this decision,’ he said.
The uncertainty caused by SARS in Mainland China and the cancellation of all football events during the planning process has however caused one change to Liverpool’s Asia Tour, with the Club opting to fly to Thailand instead of Shanghai for the July 24 match.
Liverpool will take on the Thailand National Team in Bangkok before flying to Hong Kong where the Merseyside giants will face the Hong Kong National side on July 27 at Hong Kong Stadium.
Reflecting on the tough decision to skip Shanghai, Liverpool Chief Executive, Rick Parry pledged the club would make it up to their fans in China in the future.
‘In view of the situation in Mainland China during the planning process, we made the decision not to travel there on this occasion, and it is with the utmost regret that we have had to omit Shanghai from our travel plans,’ he said.
He said the club hopes to play in Shanghai and other major cities in China in the near future.
An announcement on ticket sales for the Hong Kong match will be made shortly.
For further information, please contact:
Nikki Kemp or Marco Tsang on telephone 2575-6995, fax 2838-1260 or email prplus@hk.super.net