HONG KONG: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: FIFA ALL-STAR TEAM TO PLAY ASIAN ALL-STARS IN REUNIFICATION CUP

Record ID: 924156

  • Title: HONG KONG: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: FIFA ALL-STAR TEAM TO PLAY ASIAN ALL-STARS IN REUNIFICATION CUP
  • Date: 4th April 1997
  • Summary: HONG KONG (APRIL 4, 1997) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** WIDESHOT OF NEWS CONFERENCE SEPP BLATTER, FIFA GENERAL SECRETARY, TAKES SEAT OFFICIALS REPORTERS SEPP BLATTER SAYING, "WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN A POLITICAL EVENT, WE ARE DEALING HERE WITH SPORT AND CULTURE AND IN CONNECTION WITH A POLITICAL EVENT" (ENGLISH) WIDESHOT OF NEWS CONFERENCE, PANS TO OFFICIALS BLATTER SAYING, "IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT WE WITNESS IN THE WORLD, AT LEAST DURING MY LIFETIME, AND I'M OVER 60 YEARS, THAT SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY OCCURS AND WE FEEL PROUD IN FIFA THAT WE CAN CONTRIBUTE WITH A MATCH FOR THIS REUNIFICATION" (ENGLISH) SIGN THAT READS, "REUNIFICATION CUP, FIFA ALL STARS VERSUS ASIAN ALL STARS" (CHINESE AND ENGLISH) BLATTER PAINTS CHINESE CHARACTERS FOR REUNIFICATION CUP BLATTER AND OFFICIALS HOLD UP BANNER, ZOOMS INTO BLATTER Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2005 17:55
  • Keywords:
  • Location: HONG KONG
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA22G5WB6YO0U4SDUAARXE6WRKB
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Some of the world's top soccer stars are to play in Hong Kong's Reunification Cup match to be staged in the territory on July 3, two days after its return to Chinese rule.

    The evening match, which will commemorate Hong Kong's change of sovereignty, will be between a FIFA All-Star team and an AFC Asian All-Star team.

    Football officials from FIFA, the sport's international governing body, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Hong Kong Football Association on Friday (April 4) announced the match at a press conference in Hong Kong.

    The FIFA all-star team will include Liberia's George Weah, world player of the year in 1996, and England's Alan Shearer, top scorer in the Euro'96 tournament.

    In addition, German star midfielder Lothar Matthaus, Paris Saint Germain's Brazilian Midfielder Leonardo, Vasco da Gama striker Edmundo, former Brazilian national skipper Carlos Dunga and Aston Villa goalkeeper Mark Bosnich have accepted the invitation to play for the FIFA side.

    FIFA is still awaiting confirmation from German Player of the Year Matthias Sammer, AC Milan's Alessandro Costacurta, Allessandro del Peiro of Real Madrid, Spanish defender Fernando Hierro, and French internationals Jean-Pierre Papin and Christian Karembeu.

    Hong Kong reverts to Chinese sovereignty at midnight of June 30 after more than 150 years of British rule.

    Speaking about the match, FIFA general secretary Sepp Blatter said, "We are not involved in a political event, we are dealing here with sport and culture in connection with a political event." Blatter also added that this is the first time in over sixty years such an opportunity has occurred, and FIFA are proud to contribute to the reunification with a match.

    The handover will be marked by much fanfare as Britain returns the colony to China, and officials have been casting about for opportunities to mark the event with maximum fanfare.

    Apart from a fanatical devotion to horse-racing -- and the annual Rugby Sevens which attracts more westerners than local Chinese -- the business-loving territory generally has little time for sport, but the local soccer league with seven first division teams does draw its share of avid vans.

    Those football-lovers hoping for an annual tournament will be disappointed -- it is a one-off clash after which the trophy will remain in Hong Kong as a "reunification memento".
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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