Hong Kong football has been rocked by a major illegal bookmaking crackdown that has led to the arrest of 19 individuals, with local Premier League champions Kitchee and first division champions Supreme confirming that coaches from their clubs are among those detained. Both organisations released statements acknowledging the arrests, which authorities reportedly conducted as part of a sweeping operation targeting an underground betting syndicate. The scandal has cast a shadow over the city’s football scene, as the identities of those arrested include prominent figures within the coaching ranks, though the clubs have not yet disclosed specific charges or the nature of the alleged involvement.
Sources indicate that two of the coaches caught up in the investigation are Lo Kwan-yee, head coach of Supreme, and another unnamed staff member linked to Kitchee. The arrests are