Hong Kong said on Friday that a Singapore minister has apologised after calling the Chinese city’s football players and fans “idiots” following a decisive 2027 Asian Cup qualifier.

The remarks by David Neo, the acting minister for culture, community and youth, overshadowed Singapore’s 2-1 win in Hong Kong on Tuesday, which took them to the continent’s top competition for the first time since 1984.

However, Neo has now “conveyed his apologies through email” to sports and cultural affairs official Rosanna Law, Hong Kong’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau said in an email on Friday.

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Neo praised the Singapore team in the changing room after the game and said: “You (were) pressured by them, all the fans were bloody idiots, end up players… they also played like idiots, but you all played like lions.”

Neo later said in a social media post he “should have been more respectful” and “I take back what I said” after his remarks sparked criticism.

Law said the incident would not affect the long-standing sports and cultural relationship between Hong Kong and Singapore.