Hong Kong’s sports minister regrets comments about coach of local football team

Hong Kong’s sports minister has expressed regret over her social media post about the former coach of the men’s football team made after their stinging loss to Singapore in an Asian Cup qualifying match last year, vowing to be “more careful” with her comments.Speaking on a radio show on Tuesday evening, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said her comments about Ashley Westwood were made from the standpoint of a fan rather than a government official.At the time, some people interpreted her remarks as an instance of a government official straying into the management of the local football team, she noted.“As a supporter of the team Hong Kong, China, if I did not feel frustrated, it would be abnormal,” she said. “But if I had known [such an interpretation would be made], I would not have said it, as I don’t want people to misunderstand.”Hong Kong lost to Singapore in the Asia Cup qualifiers 2-1 on November 18 after taking the lead in the home game in the first half.Westwood came under fire for bringing 41-year-old goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng back in from the international cold and delaying his substitution until Hong Kong had fallen behind in the second half.