A Singapore minister is facing backlash after mocking Hong Kong’s footballers and supporters in a locker-room celebration — remarks critics say crossed the line of sportsmanship and diplomacy, even after he issued a public apology.
During a post-match livestream from striker Ikhsan Fandi’s Instagram on Tuesday night, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo congratulated Singapore’s team following their 2–1 win over Hong Kong in the Asian Cup qualifying match. But his comments quickly shifted from praise to derision.
“It was fantastic. You (were) pressured by them, all the fans were bloody idiots, end up players also … played like idiots, but you all played like lions,” Neo said, prompting cheers from the players around him. The clip has since circulated widely across social media, drawing swift anger among Hong Kong supporters and commentators in both cities.
The remarks were seen not only as a breach of ministerial decorum but also as an unnecessary insult directed at a home crowd that had packed the stadium to support a team that fought aggressively despite the loss.
Facing mounting criticism, Neo walked back his comments on Wednesday after an Instagram user called him “totally out of order” for speaking that way in his official capacity.
He replied that he should “probably have been more respectful,” adding, “I take back what I said. The Hong Kong team were really tough and their fans were fully behind them. That’s something we should respect, and let’s also get behind our Lions.”
Neo later uploaded a separate clip of his locker-room appearance on Facebook, though he did not directly address why he chose to repeat the message publicly after apologizing.
For many Hong Kong fans, the apology did little to defuse the frustration. The controversy has overshadowed what was otherwise a hard-fought campaign for the SAR side — and has put Singapore’s sports leadership under scrutiny for language unbecoming of a minister.
