Hong Kong responds to Italy’s protest over fencer Cheung’s victory with posts about pineapple pizza
Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long’s victory over Italy’s Filippo Macchi at the Paris Olympics has sparked an exchange of insults on social media, with Cheung’s supporters celebrating his victory with posts about pineapple pizza, widely considered a culinary delicacy…
HONG KONG — Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long’s Victory Italian Filippo Macchi’s victory at the Paris Olympics sparked a spat of insults on social media, with Cheung’s supporters celebrating his victory with posts about pineapple pizzas, widely considered a culinary blunder in Italian cuisine.
Cheung made Hong Kong history on Tuesday by beating Macchi 15-14 in the men’s foil event. The triumph makes Cheung, a winner at the 2021 Tokyo Games, the first Hong Konger to win two gold medals.
The bout required three stoppages for cameras to check the decisive point, with the fencing machine recording both fencers’ scores at roughly the same time. The final point was eventually awarded to Cheung, sparking protests from the Italian side.
The Italian Fencing Federation said in a statement that it would file a complaint with the International Olympic Committee and the International Fencing Federation over what it called “unacceptable” refereeing.
“I have never seen anything like it. Filippo Macchi is the real winner and he was denied the gold he deserved,” said Italian Fencing Federation president Paolo Azzi.
Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malagò suggested the selection of referees was problematic, saying “the two judges came from Taipei and Korea in a final between Italy and Hong Kong.”
Macchi’s supporters also left comments on Cheung’s Instagram account to air their grievances. One claimed that Cheung’s championship had been “stolen” and that Macchi should be the eventual winner.
In mocking response, Hong Kongers responded with comments on Instagram about their love for pineapple pizza in defense of Cheung and said they would eat lots of pineapple pizza to celebrate the victory.
Pizza Hut in Hong Kong and the neighboring gambling city of Macau also offered free pineapple toppings on all pizzas during meals at its branches on Tuesday and Wednesday to celebrate the win.
But Macchi eventually gained the respect of some Hong Kongers after posting on his Instagram that he knew both referees and did not want to point the finger at them for his loss. He added that their decisions should be respected.
Cheung’s victory also marks the first time Hong Kong has won two gold medals at the same Olympics. Vivian Kong Man Wai last weekend won the individual épée for the semi-autonomous Chinese city. ___
