A wave of recent public controversies surrounding the popular Cantopop boyband ERROR escalated this week as group member Pøi (Ng Po-kei) parted ways with the All People Football Association (全民足球體育會) under acrimonious circumstances, resulting in a mocking public social media announcement from the club and a subsequent rebuttal from the artist.
The fallout, which follows a period of rumored internal friction within the idol group itself, centers on the club’s scathing statement announcing Pøi’s departure, which suggested the singer’s celebrity status had overshadowed team respect and standard practices. Pøi quickly issued a strongly worded statement contradicting the club’s narrative before eventually removing his post.
Club Announces Split with Scathing Parting Words
The All People Football Association took to social media on October 30 to declare that Pøi would no longer be a part of their team, using unmistakably sarcastic language to frame the split.
The club thanked the celebrity for “affecting the emotions of every teammate” and wished him well, ironically stating that the association’s environment was too “narrow” to contain his “broad vision, character, and technique”—qualities the post claimed “far surpass everyone at the club.” The statement strongly implied that respect was a higher priority than fame, likening the singer’s renown to “a shining diamond set in a rusty iron ring,” suggesting his star power was mismatched and burdensome to the modest team.
In subsequent comments on the post, seemingly shared by team members, screenshots of a private chat were uploaded, alleging that “Pk” (a likely abbreviation for Pøi) had been removed from the group communication thread. Further posts indicated the decision was made due to Pøi’s repeated absences from practice and perceived disrespect toward teammates. The club reiterated its core philosophy: “Fame is ‘seen,’ respect is ‘heard,'” and challenged the artist to dispute their claims if they were inaccurate.
Pøi Defends Position, Clarifies Exit
Hours after the club’s public broadside, Pøi released his own statement on social media, seeking to clarify the conditions of his exit. He emphasized to fans and followers that the decision to leave was his own, claiming he had verbally informed management earlier this year that he would not participate in future matches.
Pøi strongly attributed his departure to “disagreements over management methods and developmental direction” with the club’s leadership, adding that he strongly condemned the club’s actions to “distort facts and confuse right and wrong.” Although the post provided a clear counter-narrative to the public shaming, Pøi subsequently deleted the post without further comment.
The incident marks the latest public relations challenge for the four-member group ERROR. Earlier speculation had suggested that another member, Denis Kwok (193), had been sidelined from recent promotional activities due to past controversial comments, leading to rumors of a rift or suspension by management.
Navigating Celebrity and Team Ethics
The public disagreement highlights the delicate balance between celebrity commitment and the behavioral expectations of community sports organizations. While star power can bring attention and revenue to recreational clubs, the expectation of discipline, attendance, and adherence to team ethics remains paramount. For professional athletes, contractual obligations typically mandate behavior; however, for celebrities participating in amateur leagues, the conflict often arises when fame clashes with the foundational values of teamwork and mutual respect.
This incident serves as a cautionary tale: whether in a community sports club or an entertainment group, internal conflicts, if not managed privately, can quickly escalate into damaging public spats, impacting both personal and organizational reputation.
