Football fan, 19, given 180 hours of community service for turning back on national anthem

A 19-year-old Hong Kong football fan was handed 180 hours of community service after he was convicted of insulting the national anthem by turning his back to the pitch when the song was played at a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier match last year.

Passing sentence at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday, magistrate Kestrel Lam Tsz-hong acknowledged the defense’s argument that the case was not among the most serious of its kind.

He noted that the defendant had acted alone, did not disrupt others nearby, and did not provoke any reactions from the crowd.

Taking into account that the defendant was only 18 years old at the time of the offense, the magistrate considered alternatives to immediate imprisonment, including probation and community service.

Lam described the defendant as a young person capable of independent thought who did not require counseling. With consideration to minimizing the impact on the defendant’s studies and extracurricular activities, the court ultimately issued a community service order.

Read more: Football fan, 19, convicted of insulting national anthem during World Cup qualifier in HK