HK football fans left fuming as only 500 team jerseys made available for 50,000-sellout match

Hong Kong football supporters expressed outrage on Tuesday after organizers made just 500 national team jerseys available for purchase ahead of tonight's historic sellout match against India at Kai Tak Sports Park - a shockingly inadequate 1 percent of the stadium's 50,000 capacity.

The merchandise debacle, which saw queues cut off around 30 minutes before sales began at noon, created a stark contrast to the overwhelming demand that saw all match tickets snapped up days in advance for Hong Kong's crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifier.

According to sources, only 500 team kits were made available for sale this noon.

Hundreds of frustrated fans were turned away from the Nike store at Kai Tak retail complex, with many slamming the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) and its kit supplier for what they called a "complete failure" to anticipate fan enthusiasm.

"This is embarrassing - 500 jerseys for one of our most crucial matches? Especially when they know they are creating history tonight with a sell-out 50,000 crowd!" Said a fumed supporter, who arrived at 11.40am only to find the queue already closed.

"The HKFA keeps saying they want to grow football culture, but then they can't even get enough shirts for fans who want to show their support."

The jersey shortage overshadowed what should have been a celebratory buildup to Hong Kong's most anticipated football occasion in recent memory.

While the lucky few who secured the prized red kits, many more will now attend tonight's match without the official gear - a visible symbol of the disconnect between football authorities and the surging local fanbase.