Political Football: Protesters Head To Big Match

Pro-democracy protesters have taken their demonstrations to a new venue – Hong Kong Stadium where English Premier League champions Manchester City took on local side Kitchee on Wednesday evening.

Fans chanted slogans including "no extradition to China", and "Hong Kong is not China" as international stars including England's Raheem Sterling and Belgian ace Kevin de Bruyne took on some of Hong Kong's top players on the pitch. Others displayed banners and signs.

In the 21st minute, fans began a chorus of "Do you hear the people sing?" from the musical "Les Miserables", which has been adopted by democracy supporters in the SAR.

The timing was decided because July 21 – Sunday – was the date of attacks by a mob of stick-wielding men at the Yuen Long MTR station, targetting people who had taken part in a protest on Hong Kong Island that day.

Some protesters handed out leaflets to the tens of thousands of people attending the game.

"Most of the Hong Kong people are very peaceful," said one person who was distributing leaflets in the stadium. "They understand what we are doing.

"At the end of the day I am just doing what I can and I think this is the right thing to do. I am not using any violence, I am not hitting somebody in the head. I am just really peaceful to share my thoughts."