David Neo apologises for calling Hong Kong fans and players “idiots” after Asian Cup qualifier

Singapore’s Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo has apologised after a video surfaced showing him calling Hong Kong football fans and players “idiots” during a post-match locker room celebration.

The incident followed Singapore’s historic 2–1 win over Hong Kong on 18 November, 2025, which secured qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup.

In the clip, initially livestreamed by a player and later reposted by football platform TMSGoal, Neo is heard saying: “It was fantastic… you kena [Malay for hit] pressured by them, all the fans were bloody idiots, end up players also played like idiots… But you all played like lions.”

The footage generated strong reactions, with many questioning the appropriateness of a minister using such language in reference to an opposing team and their supporters.

One comment from user @sterlingcity stated, “Totally out of order as a Minister he should have been more respectful.”

In a direct response to this comment on Instagram, Neo replied: “Indeed I probably should have been more respectful. 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.”

The reply, posted under his verified Instagram account, drew over 40 likes and prompted a wave of follow-up responses. While some users appreciated the humility, others were less forgiving or continued to express concern about the tone of the original remarks.

User @haribol4ver responded positively, saying, “You got my respect for being real and admitting it… most of us don’t care about ministers swearing, it’s just the boomers.” Another user, @aw04d4wat, suggested the controversy should not overshadow broader issues: “Let’s not let this distract us from the real goal of improving Singapore football.”

However, criticism persisted across platforms. On TMSGoal’s repost, users voiced concern over professionalism and decorum.

@James Lim wrote, “We do not need to belittle other teams or their fans to praise the Lions… Mr Neo should apologise for the bad remarks.” Others noted that public figures are accountable for their words, especially when shared online.

The comments also highlighted a generational divide, with some downplaying the significance of informal locker room language, while others emphasised the image of leadership. Still, the apology appears to have mitigated some of the criticism.

The context of the speech was a high-emotion celebration. Singapore had come from behind to defeat Hong Kong, securing a place in the Asian Cup for the first time by performance. Goals from Shawal Anuar and Ilhan Fandi turned the match after Matt Orr had opened the scoring for Hong Kong in the 15th minute.

The win ensured Singapore topped Group C with 11 points, an unassailable lead due to head-to-head results. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam praised the Lions’ resilience, and Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim noted the symbolic value of Ilhan’s goal, given the legacy of his father Fandi Ahmad.

While the sporting achievement was a unifying moment, the incident involving Neo served as a reminder of the scrutiny surrounding public officials, especially in the era of livestreamed and instantly shared content.

As Singapore now looks ahead to the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, the focus will return to squad development and international preparations.

Neo’s apology may close the matter publicly, but it has sparked broader discussions about conduct, accountability, and the role of political figures in national sport.