Officials blame weather conditions over criticism of Kai Tak pitch quality

Hong Kong's new Kai Tak Sports Park has come under scrutiny after international football stars, including Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, raised concerns about the quality of the main stadium’s pitch during recent high-profile matches.

The criticism emerged following Thursday’s (July 31) much-anticipated friendly between English Premier League rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the venue.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui addressed the concerns on Friday (August 1), acknowledging weather challenges while defending the pitch's overall condition.

"The grass pitch is inevitably affected by weather conditions," she told reporters after a public event. “We will work with the Sports Park management to explore improvement measures."

Extreme weather takes toll
The government official explained that Hong Kong's recent turbulent weather - including a No. 10 typhoon signal and black rainstorm warning - had significantly impacted pitch maintenance.

The venue's retractable roof had been closed during severe weather to control rainwater exposure, while ground staff deployed UV lights to stimulate grass growth and maintain turf density and color.

"From my observation, the center circle shows no exposed soil or holes," Law noted, though she conceded there might be more sand accumulation near the penalty areas - a situation she described as typical for heavily used pitches.

Her comments came after Virgil van Dijk, whose Liverpool squad trained at the facility last week ahead of their friendly match against AC Milan, openly criticized the surface quality. 

Law, when asked for a comment, pledged to work with venue operators to enhance turf management strategies tailored to Hong Kong's humid climate and the stadium's busy event schedule.