2021–22 Hong Kong First Division League

The 2021–22 Hong Kong First Division League was the 8th season of Hong Kong First Division since it became the second-tier football league in Hong Kong in 2014–15.[1] The season began on 19 September 2021 and ended on 26 December 2021.

Hong Kong First Division
Season2021–22
ChampionsNone
PromotedTai Po
Sham Shui Po
RelegatedNone
Matches played90
Goals scored293 (3.26 per match)
Top goalscorerLaw Chun Yan (North District)
Mahama Awal (North District)
(11 goals)
Biggest home winTai Po 6–0 South China
(21 November 2021)
Biggest away winMetro Gallery 0–6 North District
(21 November 2021)
Highest scoringSouth China 4–5 Sha Tin
(19 September 2021)

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

On 5 January 2022, the Hong Kong government announced a tightening of social distancing measures between 7 January to 20 January in order to control the Omicron outbreak.[2] Public recreation facilities, such as football pitches, were closed and members of the public were barred from gathering in groups of more than two, making it impossible for the season to continue. The Hong Kong Football Association announced on the same day that it would also postpone any scheduled matches in the successive two week period.

After the measures were extended several times in the following weeks, the government announced on 22 February that it would extend the measures until 20 April, making it nearly impossible to complete the season before most player contracts expired on 31 May.[3] The HKFA held an emergency meeting with the clubs on 25 February, after which it was determined that the remainder of the season would be cancelled.[4]

Format

Relegation was suspended during the 2020–21 season and the season was shortened to a single round-robin due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong.[5] As a result, all 14 teams from the previous season were permitted to remain during the 2021–22 season.

Teams
Relegated from Premier League

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Tai Po (P) 13 9 1 3 37 12 +25 28 Promotion to the Premier League
2 Sha Tin 13 8 3 2 31 19 +12 27
3 Yuen Long 13 8 2 3 27 9 +18 26
4 Eastern District 13 8 1 4 25 17 +8 25
5 North District 13 7 4 2 29 10 +19 25
6 Sham Shui Po (P) 13 6 4 3 20 12 +8 22 Promotion to the Premier League
7 Wing Yee 13 6 3 4 19 12 +7 21
8 Hoi King 13 5 2 6 15 22 −7 17
9 Central & Western 13 4 4 5 19 24 −5 16
10 South China 12 4 2 6 16 22 −6 14
11 Happy Valley 13 4 1 8 24 31 −7 13
12 Citizen 13 2 4 7 12 27 −15 10
13 Wong Tai Sin 13 3 1 9 12 32 −20 10
14 Metro Gallery 12 0 0 12 7 44 −37 0
Updated to match(es) played on 26 December 2021. Source: Hong Kong Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Fair-play points; 8) Drawing lots
(P) Promoted

References
  1. "Hong Kong First Division". HKFA. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  2. Ming Fai, Ngan (5 January 2022). "政府收緊防疫措施 1.16香港單車節取消". HK01. Retrieved 5 January 2022. (in Chinese)
  3. Siu, Twinnie; Master, Farah (22 February 2022). "Hong Kong to enforce mass testing amid predicted surge in COVID infections". Reuters. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  4. Hong Kong Football Association. "Arrangement of 2021-2022 BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League and cup matches". Hong Kong Football Association. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  5. "COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong". HKFA. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
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