"Pineapple Pizza is the Best" Hong Kong vs Italy Fencing Gold Medal Controversy... Pizza Hut Also Joins In [Paris Olympics]

Controversy Over Referee's Call After Hong Kong's Gold Medal Win in Italy
Pizza Hut Hong Kong Hosts 'Pineapple Pizza' Event

"Everyone in Hong Kong is very happy. To celebrate this joyful day, all restaurants are offering free pineapple toppings on pizza orders."

After Hong Kong defeated Italy to win the gold medal in the men's foil fencing event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a mocking exchange over 'pineapple pizza' has erupted between fans of both sides. Even the major pizza chain Pizza Hut Hong Kong & Macau has joined in by running a free pineapple topping event.

On the 30th, Pizza Hut Hong Kong & Macau announced via a Facebook post that to celebrate the Hong Kong team's medal win, they will offer free pineapple toppings on all pizza orders at all stores from 6 PM that day until the end of July.

This follows Italy's dissatisfaction with the refereeing in the fencing Olympic match where Hong Kong won gold, joining the mockery centered around pineapple pizza.

In the match held on the 29th local Paris time, Hong Kong's Cheung Ka Long narrowly defeated Italy's Filippo Masi 15-14 to win the gold medal. Notably, the final decision was reviewed three times via video replay by the referees, with both athletes firmly believing they had won.

After the intense match ended with the gold medal going to Hong Kong, the Italian Fencing Federation immediately issued a statement calling the decision "unacceptable" and announced they would officially file a protest. Federation president Paolo Azzi claimed on his social media account that "Filippo Masi is the real winner" and that "he did not receive the gold medal he deserved."

Fans from both sides have continued their exchanges mainly on social media since right after the match. A Hong Kong fan wrote on Cheung Ka Long's Instagram, "I like pineapple pizza and soy sauce pasta." Various meme images combining pineapple and pizza also flooded the internet. Italians, who take pride in their pizza, are known to largely detest pineapple pizza. Meanwhile, Italian fans strongly expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, saying, "They stole the gold medal. Admit it," and "The referees saved you."

Amid this, Pizza Hut Hong Kong & Macau's event is just a joke for Hong Kong but is even more insulting to Italy, according to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP). The New York Times (NYT) reported, "After Hong Kong's gold medal, Pizza Hut started a second challenge to Italy by offering free pineapple toppings in Hong Kong."