Tag Archives: FIFA

Football

CHINESE FOOTBALL CORRUPTION REPORT

1 Comment

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 →
Football

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

1 Comment
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 →
Ice Hockey, Olympics

Confirmed: NHL Stars Set to Play at 2022 Beijing Olympics

6 Comments

With five months to go until the 2022 Winter Olympics, one big question that has loomed large over the Games has now been answered – NHL players will again be back at the Olympics having been forced to skip Pyeongchang in 2018. That means Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and many more will actually be in Beijing – and soon! Let’s take a look at what this means – for the players, for the Olympics and for hockey fans worldwide.

Continue reading Confirmed: NHL Stars Set to Play at 2022 Beijing Olympics →
Football, Olympics

Indian Team Scraps Chinese Uniforms in Embarrassing U-Turn

Leave a comment

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 →
Column, Football

Gov’t meddling in Chinese soccer, Pt 28: tattoo ban

7 Comments
You may have heard by now about China’s ban on tattoos, first announced in January when “hip-hop elements” were deemed no longer suitable for TV, and now scrubbed from soccer, too (as detailed below). But though this forms part of a wider campaign, Chinese football has seen the government get involved all too often. 

Continue reading Gov’t meddling in Chinese soccer, Pt 28: tattoo ban →

General

The future direction of China’s sports policy

4 Comments
Politics trumps everything in China, so when all the top leaders gather in Beijing for their annual meetings, it’s worth paying attention. Sports is not – it must be stressed – a top priority at the “Two Sessions” or Lianghui, but it does get a mention every now and then. Below are the relevant moments from the week’s major speeches, plus some attempts to read the tea leaves. 

Continue reading The future direction of China’s sports policy →

Football

Taxing debates blight Chinese football

Leave a comment
CSL clubs approached the transfer window cautiously due to the new 100% transfer tax for foreign players – and the lack of detail surrounding it. But clubs are continuing to look for loopholes and that, coupled with Wanda’s return to Chinese football, could spark a return to spending in the summer. 

Continue reading Taxing debates blight Chinese football →

Column, Football

FIFA nets yet another Chinese sponsor, while CFA provides much-needed transfer clarity

Leave a comment
Here’s a summary of what you can find in my weekly China Digest for SportBusiness:

Continue reading FIFA nets yet another Chinese sponsor, while CFA provides much-needed transfer clarity →

General

10 questions on the Chinese sports industry

Leave a comment
US-based sports marketing guru Joe Favorito reached out and asked me to do a Q&A for his site on various aspects of the Chinese sports industry. Given that his weekly industry newsletter is distributed to well over 30,000 people, I was more than happy to oblige. Joe published the results in two parts – here and here – which are reprinted below. 

Continue reading 10 questions on the Chinese sports industry →

eSports

How money & influence are shaping eSports in China – and beyond

2 Comments
Money is often thought of as synonymous with power and influence – in sports as elsewhere – but it’s not often we see such a clear example of a sponsor brazenly attempting to assert their influence as we’ve seen recently in China. 

Continue reading How money & influence are shaping eSports in China – and beyond →