シンガポールＧＫに中国ファンから送金やまず Ｗ杯予選で英雄に

【シンガポールＡＦＰ＝時事】サッカーシンガポール代表のＧＫハッサン・サニー（４１）が、中国代表のＷ杯北中米大会アジア最終予選進出を助けたお礼として、中国のファンからお金が送られてきていることを明かした。（写真は、 サッカーＷ杯北中米大会アジア２次予選のタイとの試合で、相手のシュートを止めるシンガポールのＧＫハッサン・サニー〈右〉）
　中国は１１日に行われた２次予選の韓国戦に０－１で敗れ、同組のタイがシンガポールに３点差以上で勝利した場合は、逆転で最終予選進出を逃すピンチに陥っていた。
　結果的にタイはシンガポールを３－１で下したが、３点差以上での勝利を阻まれ、中国の組２位での最終予選進出が決定。この試合で１１本のセーブを決めてマン・オブ・ザ・マッチに選ばれる活躍を見せたサニーは、一夜にして中国ファンの英雄になっていた。
　サニーはシンガポールの国営放送局ＣＮＡに対し、自身がシンガポールで経営する屋台の「支付宝（アリペイ）」の支払い用ＱＲコードがネット上で流れ、そこへお金が送られてきていると明かした。
　「最初は面白かった」というサニーだが、お金が送られ続けてくる状況に「そもそも合法なのか」と疑問に思ったとも話し、「どこかでやめないと」と中国のファンに送金をストップするよう求めた。これまで送られてきた金額については明かさなかった。
　シンガポール東部の郊外にある屋台には、サニーへの感謝を伝えるために大勢のファンが詰めかけており、地元の報道によると、１３日はあまりの来客で売り切れになってしまったという。
　サニーは、１１日の試合後から携帯電話へのメッセージやメールもやまないといい、家族も衝撃を受けていると語った。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/06/14-20:40）

Singapore's veteran goalkeeper Hassan Sunny says Chinese football fans have been sending him money to say thank you for his unlikely role in keeping their World Cup dreams alive.
The 40-year-old became a hero overnight in the country of 1.4 billion people after his saves during Singapore's match at Thailand helped China squeeze into the next qualifying round.
China's hopes of reaching the third stage of Asian qualifying for 2026 were hanging by a thread after a 1-0 defeat to South Korea in Seoul on Tuesday.
Thailand then needed to beat Singapore by three goals in Bangkok to leapfrog China and snatch second place in Group C, which would have ended China's World Cup hopes.
Thailand did beat basement side Singapore, but only 3-1, thanks to Sunny making 11 saves in a man-of-the-match display.
The stopper told Singapore's state broadcaster CNA that fans in China had used the Alipay account of his food stall in the city-state to transfer money to him after photos of its payment QR code were circulated online.
Chinese fans have also been flocking to the modest food outlet.
While Sunny said he has been amazed by the acclaim, he wondered if being sent money for his performance was even legal.
I did enjoy it for a while. I was like, oh okay, money coming in, CNA quoted him as saying, without disclosing how much he had received.
But having said that, I was thinking, when is this going to stop? Is this legal?
He is now urging Chinese fans to stop transferring him money.
I think we have to stop somewhere, he said.
Chinese citizens and visitors in Singapore have been visiting Sunny's restaurant located in the city's eastern suburbs to thank him.
The outlet ran out of food on Thursday because of strong demand, according to local reports.
Sunny said his phone has also been inundated with messages and emails ever since the final whistle on Tuesday night.
My family is obviously a bit shocked by all these messages, he said.
Especially my daughters. They're like, 'Why (do) I see your face everywhere?'