The 2020–21 Hong Kong Premier League (also known as the BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League for sponsorship reasons) is the seventh season of the Hong Kong Premier League, the top division of Hong Kong football.
Effects of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
Due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Football Association postponed the opening of the 2020–21 season.[1] Later, it was announced that the season would begin on 21 November 2020.[2][3] The league was suspended again after two rounds being played due to the third wave of coronavirus pandemic in Hong Kong. On 12 February 2021, the Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department approved to resume football competitions in Hong Kong after February 20 behind closed doors. The Senior Shied and FA Cup were cancelled, while the ongoing Sapling Cup would continue.
The number of foreign players is restricted to six per team, with no more than five on the pitch during matches, the fifth player must be a marquee player.
According to the decision made by Hong Kong Football Association Board of Directors on 15 July 2020, the marquee player must fulfil one of the following criteria:
i) played for a club which is in a world's top professional league of one of the top 50 associations in the FIFA ranking published by FIFA on 11 June 2020 for at least 1 season or ii) fielded by his association in an international match, which his association is one of the top 50 associations in the FIFA ranking published by FIFA on 11 June 2020.
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 (Play-off if the winner has to be decided). (C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (R) Relegated Notes:
^Teams were split into two groups (Championship Group and Relegation Group) after each team played 14 matches.
^Pegasus announced that they would self-relegate to the third division due to lack of funds.
^ abHead-to head results for teams with 16 points: Southern 5 points; Rangers 2 points.
Updated to match(es) played on 30 May 2021. Source: HKFA Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Positions by round
To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.