Shanghai (AFP)
A meeting of fans on the eve of an NBA exhibition match was canceled Wednesday in Shanghai in the middle of a controversial tweet by the leader of the Houston Rockets supporting Hong Kong protesters.
The event was canceled due to "misplaced comments made by the Houston Rockets (Daryl) Morey team's general manager" and those of NBA boss Adam Silver, says a statement from the city's sports directorate. from Shanghai.
The exhibition match scheduled Thursday between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers is maintained at this stage.
The crisis began on Friday when Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey posted the message on Twitter: "Fight for Freedom, Support Hong Kong."
The tweet provoked the fury of many basketball fans in China, accusing Mr. Morey of interfering in a question of sovereignty and encouraging violence in Hong Kong.
The former British colony has been going through a political crisis for four months - the worst since China's return to China in 1997 - with almost daily and sometimes violent demonstrations.
Public TV CCTV and Internet giant Tencent have already suspended the broadcast of the exhibition match scheduled Thursday between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers in Shanghai and another Saturday in Shenzhen (south).
Since the beginning of the Hong Kong demonstrations in June, China has been accusing foreign countries and leaders of pouring oil on the fire with statements supporting the protesters.
Tuesday, the North American Basketball League (NBA), through the voice of his boss Adam Silver, said she would not apologize for this tweet and continue to support "freedom of expression."
Adam Silver, due to arrive in Shanghai on Wednesday, said he wants to discuss the situation with Chinese officials. But doubt hangs over the exhibition matches scheduled this week.
© 2019 AFP