In the past, Hong Kong football spectators would boo the Chinese anthem as a form of political protest. However, this practice was banned in 2020 as part of a broader government crackdown following massive democracy protests in the city.

At Hong Kong Stadium on Thursday, police stated that two men and a woman were arrested for “turning their backs toward the pitch and not standing for the national anthem.” The police emphasized that any public and intentional insult to the national anthem is a criminal offense.

The arrested individuals are aged between 18 and 31. If convicted, they could face up to three years in jail and a fine of HK$50,000 (£5,000/US$6,400).

Despite the arrests, Hong Kong’s team, whose chances of advancing to the next stage of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers were already dashed, lost the match to Iran 4-2.

While Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, it competes under its own name in many international sports, including football.