BEIJING, Sept. 10,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, the General
Administration of Sport of China and the Ministry of Public
Security held a joint news conference in Dalian, Northeast
China's Liaoning Province,
about their crackdown on match-fixing, betting, and
biased refereeing in professional football leagues. The conference
reported on the strict legal actions taken by public security
authorities against illegal activities in the football sector,
including betting and match-fixing, as well as the
disciplinary measures imposed by the Chinese Football Association
(CFA) on 61 individuals involved in these cases. Among them, 43
individuals have been banned for life from football-related
activities. This marks the first batch of "life bans" issued by the
CFA. The General Administration of Sport of China and the CFA will
continue to announce relevant penalties based on the lists provided
by the Ministry of Public Security's public security administration
bureau.
This significant industry penalty has attracted widespread
attention both domestically and internationally. One reason for
this is that the Chinese men's national soccer team recently
suffered a 0-7 defeat to the Japanese team in a World Cup qualifier
on Thursday, setting three "shameful records": the largest margin
of defeat to Japan, the most goals
conceded in a single World Cup qualifier match, and the largest
margin of defeat in World Cup qualifiers. The team's performance in
this match, which was widely deemed "completely lacking in fighting
spirit," has sparked immense anger among the Chinese public and
prompted reflection on the long-standing, deep-rooted issues
plaguing Chinese football once again.
The public's anger and disappointment with the Chinese men's
soccer team for "not living up to expectations" is entirely
understandable. As the most popular and widely participated sport
in the world, soccer has a unique ability to evoke collective
emotions. It is inherently tied to sportsmanship, national pride,
and identity. The national team jerseys worn by the players carry
the hopes and expectations of countless citizens who long for them
to fight for the country and for glory. On Thursday evening, in the
stands of Saitama Stadium in Japan, Chinese fans displayed a banner that
read: "With my sincere heart, may you find your fighting spirit!"
In a sense, soccer matches are not just about winning or losing;
they are about whether the team can stand tall and give their all,
demonstrating the resilience and fighting spirit that is expected
of them in the face of tough opponents and pressure.
In the past, China has lacked world-class coaches, good training
environments and facilities in many sports, but it has never lacked
spirit and determination. The Chinese men's national soccer team
has also given us many memorable moments. For example, during the
2017 World Cup qualifiers, Chinese team defeated South Korean team,
turning Changsha into a sea of joy that night. Many Chinese
fans sang the national anthem with tears in their eyes and marched
through the streets waving national flags late into the night. In
the 2022 East Asian Football Championship game, Chinese team drew
0-0 with Japan. Despite being at a
disadvantage, the team showed fighting spirit and determination,
earning widespread praise at home. And who could forget the
qualifiers of 2002 World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, when the Chinese men's team overcame
many challenges to finally make it to the World Cup finals? The
memories of the country celebrating its qualification are still
vivid for many.
It is precisely because of these memories that, in the face of
one "surrendered" match after another, people repeatedly ask: Where
has the fighting spirit of the Chinese men's soccer team gone?
Systemic corruption in the industry is widely considered one of the
main reasons. The revelations at the press conference on
September 10 were shocking: 120
matches involving match-fixing and betting have
been confirmed, encompassing the Chinese Super League, China League One, China League Two, the Chinese
FA Cup, and China Women's Super
League. A total of 41 clubs across these leagues were involved. The
government could thoroughly investigate the match-fixing,
betting, and biased refereeing in soccer, leaving no
stone unturned - this is the inevitable demand from the Chinese
public, whose blame stems from a deep love for soccer.
Revitalizing Chinese football requires not only rectification
and adjustment but also systematic reform at the foundational
level. The Overall Plan for China's Football Reform and Development
emphasizes that football development should combine a long-term
vision with a solid foundation, highlighting the need to strengthen
the population base, infrastructure, management, and cultural
foundation of football, while persistently exerting effort for
long-term success. This is not something that can be resolved
overnight; however, as long as the direction is correct, we need
not fear the distance. This simple truth is equally applicable to
Chinese football.
On Tuesday evening, the Chinese team hosted Saudi Arabia, currently ranked fourth in
Asia, in Dalian, for a 2026
FIFA World Cup Asian Football Confederation qualifier game.
Although the national soccer team ultimately lost 1-2 to the Saudi
Arabian team, there were noticeable changes compared to their
previous match against the Japanese team. However, this game
further exposed the objective gap in technical abilities between
the Chinese team and other teams. This serves as an opportunity for
the national team to reassess themselves and start anew. Tuesday
evening should be a starting point for the national team to
recognize shame and inspire bravery. They need to accept and
confront the current situation, follow the developmental laws of
football, and establish a solid foundation for the sport.
Additionally, they should exercise ample patience. As football
reforms continue to deepen, the Chinese team should strive to play
with skill, determination, and dignity on a clean pitch, and the
public eagerly anticipates the arrival of that day.
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hope-chinese-mens-national-soccer-team-will-truly-recognize-shame-and-inspire-bravery-global-times-editorial-302244510.html
SOURCE Global Times