Category Archives: Football

CHINESE FOOTBALL CORRUPTION REPORT

Detention of ex-Everton Star Li Tie Sparks Biggest Government Crackdown in a Decade

by a SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

China Sports Insider is delighted to publish the following contribution from a special correspondent, who wishes to remain anonymous. All details contained in this article have been translated from Chinese-language reports published on well-known Chinese websites, including official announcements on people detained for investigation etc.

PART 1 – The Online Sacrifice of a Greedy Icon

Like all good football corruption enquiries, the shocking criminal investigations playing out this winter in China started with complete silence. Early last November, one of the biggest stars in Chinese football disappeared. From a training session. According to reports, he told the other participants that he was going to “take some pictures”. He probably added, “I may be some time”.

Continue reading CHINESE FOOTBALL CORRUPTION REPORT

China’s Censored Crowd Close-ups Spark World Cup Outrage

China’s national broadcaster CCTV censored close-ups of crowd shots throughout the World Cup in Qatar – but how did they it, why were they doing it, and what does it all mean?

A funny thing happened shortly after the start of the FIFA World Cup. I was browsing WeChat, the ubiquitous social media platform in China which combines Facebook-style posts with WhatsApp-style messaging (plus a whole lot more), and I came across this video post below:

What it showed was footage from parallel broadcasts of the Australia vs Tunisia World Cup game on November 26, 2022, with the international feed (complete with BBC graphics) at the top and China’s state-run channel CCTV’s version at the bottom. They were exactly the same, but with one crucial difference: whenever the BBC version went to close-up shots of the crowd, the CCTV version showed close-ups of the two coaches on the sidelines instead.

The general commentary online had made the connection with China’s COVID policy at the time and the World Cup in Qatar, ostensibly asking the question “Why is it that thousands of people can congregate at the World Cup without wearing masks whereas we here in China are largely confined to our homes?”

Continue reading China’s Censored Crowd Close-ups Spark World Cup Outrage

Shanghai Showdown: Cameron Wilson Talks Balls and Lockdowns

Long-time Shanghai resident and Chinese football expert Cameron Wilson is now on Day 23 of his lockdown on the Pudong side of the city. Given what’s happened there over the past few weeks, we felt it was important to get his views on both topics – the lockdown and the state of Chinese football. And, as a reader of China Sports Insider, here’s why YOU should care: although much of the world is likely disinterested about China’s current outbreak through a combination of COVID fatigue and/or the distraction of other news closer to home, how China handles this outbreak could define the global sports industry for years to come.

If China can walk this back from the cliff, with a short-term plan to keep the virus contained, a medium-term plan to get the elderly vaccinated and a longer-term plan to finally re-open its borders, there are enough green shoots of recovery to think that China’s sports industry could again become a major player. But if things in Shanghai keep going south, the border could remain closed indefinitely, continuing to cripple what’s left of China’s post-Olympics sports industry – and the ramifications in other sectors could be far, far larger. Full show below:

Continue reading Shanghai Showdown: Cameron Wilson Talks Balls and Lockdowns

Olympic “Boycott”, Hockey Showdown & the CSL Returns To Action

Episode 11 of the China Sports Insider Podcast features:

  • The latest on the Olympic ice hockey drama – the Chinese men’s team is now confirmed to be in, so what does that mean come February?
  • The US announces a diplomatic boycott (read “boycott”) for the 2022 Games; we discuss what that means in practical terms.
  • And with the Chinese Super League returning this weekend after a four-month break, we speak to Tariq Panja from The New York Times and Nikki Wang, formerly an adviser to the CSL with Deloitte, on the overall state of Chinese football and how things got so bad.

Click through to hear the show (full blurb and timestamps below). Please leave feedback in the comments!

Continue reading Olympic “Boycott”, Hockey Showdown & the CSL Returns To Action

China Still Out in Front After First Week at Tokyo Olympics

In this week’s Olympic round-up, I will go over all the golds that China has won so far, up to the end of Day 8. I’ll start with the golds (from most to least per sport), because that’s what China cares about, even if we get periodic messages from the leadership about moving away from a “win at all costs” mentality. In fact, it feels more like we’re moving back towards that gold obsession these days.

Then I’ll look at some other good performance, as well as some disappointments, and finish with a few other developments – including some significant Winter Olympic news and the launch of the China Sports Insider podcast!

Continue reading China Still Out in Front After First Week at Tokyo Olympics

NHL Players Could Miss Out On Olympics As Deadline Looms

In this week’s look at all the latest news in the build-up to the 2022 Olympics and elsewhere:

  • NHL’s decision on Beijing Olympics comes down to the wire
  • Team China lining up “heritage players” despite contract standoff
  • Japan, Australia block China’s route to World Cup qualification
  • Men’s basketball team misses Olympics for first time since 1984
  • The latest 2022 Olympics boycott talk from around the world
  • All the other features and stories of interest
Continue reading NHL Players Could Miss Out On Olympics As Deadline Looms

Sun Yang Banned for 4+ Years, Will Miss Tokyo Olympics

In this week’s look at all the latest news in the build-up to the 2022 Olympics and elsewhere:

  • Chinese swimmer gets ban of 4 years and 3 months at doping retrial
  • Soccer star Li Ying comes out as lesbian
  • IOC member hails China’s winter sports progress with some dubious stats
  • Commemorative stamps released for 2022 Winter Olympics venues
  • Golfers set for Tokyo, Zhang makes history at Wimbledon
  • The latest 2022 Olympics boycott talk from around the world
  • All the other features and stories of interest
Continue reading Sun Yang Banned for 4+ Years, Will Miss Tokyo Olympics

China Inches Closer to Unlikely World Cup Berth

In this week’s look at all the latest news in the build-up to the 2022 Olympics and elsewhere:

  • China is into the third round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying
  • WTA set to decide on the future of China tournaments for this year
  • Peter Hessler’s bizarre take on the Chinese skiing industry
  • Eileen Gu Ailing nominated for an ESPY Award
  • Chinese diver to compete for Australia at Tokyo Olympics
  • The latest 2022 Olympics boycott talk from around the world
  • All the other features and stories of interest
Continue reading China Inches Closer to Unlikely World Cup Berth

Indian Team Scraps Chinese Uniforms in Embarrassing U-Turn

In this week’s look at all the latest news in the build-up to the Olympics and elsewhere:

  • Indian Olympic Association scraps Li-Ning kit deal
  • China on the verge of progressing in FIFA World Cup qualifying
  • The IOC provides an update on its plans for Beijing
  • 22nd death in Gansu ultramarathon disaster as official commits suicide
  • The latest boycott threats from around the world
  • All the other features and stories of interest
Continue reading Indian Team Scraps Chinese Uniforms in Embarrassing U-Turn

Setting Sun, Soccer Screwup, Ski Supremo & Stricken Sponsors

As mentioned last week, I’ll still be looking at whatever Winter Olympic action crops up, plus all the developments on the road to Beijing 2022, but as we head into the summer months, other sports will also get a look in, with star swimmer Sun Yang and his retrial in a doping case getting top billing this week, along with China’s last-minute switch to play its upcoming World Cup qualifying games in the UAE, which could have significant implications for China’s 2022 World Cup hopes.

In this week’s look at all the latest news in the build-up to the Olympics and elsewhere:

  • Swimming world waits for Sun Yang retrial verdict
  • China’s World Cup qualifiers switched to UAE
  • Beijing 2022 “Bound to Happen”
  • New Chinese involvement in International Ski Federation
  • Mixed news for Olympic sponsors
  • The latest boycott threats from around the world
  • All the other features and stories of interest
Continue reading Setting Sun, Soccer Screwup, Ski Supremo & Stricken Sponsors