Hong Kong-born British footballer has allies in high places for city passport application
Callum Beattie, a fixture in HKFC defence since returning from university, aims to be naturalised before June match against India
The local football association has intervened in the passport application process for Callum Beattie, in a bid to have the Football Club defender available for Hong Kong selection this summer.
Beattie, 23, has been a fixture for his team this season, after studying in the United States and Canada.
A raiding left-back, he was born in Hong Kong but has British citizenship. Beattie started the passport process in August and is optimistic of being naturalised “quite soon”. In June, Hong Kong have a crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifier against India. The following month, they will go to South Korea for the East Asian Football Federation Championship finals.
“I’ve just received a reference letter from the Hong Kong FA to speed up [the application], so, hopefully, it shouldn’t take much longer,” Beattie said.
“[Hong Kong head coach] Ashley Westwood and the technical director [John Morling] signed it. It seems I have their full backing and I’m looking forward, hopefully, to getting in the squad.”
Beattie, whose dad, Danny, played semi-professionally in England and was a Football Club coach, made his senior debut at age 16 in January 2018.