Chinese Football Association wants naturalised players to have ‘patriotic feelings’ and learn about the party

Directive issued by national soccer body says footballers who become citizens must study Chinese, the country’s culture and history

Clubs are to assign staff to track players’ thoughts and performance and file a written report to the CFA every month

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John Hou Saeter, who is known as Hou Yongyong in China, was the first foreign soccer player to get Chinese citizenship. Photo: Handout

Published: 8:00pm, 30 Mar 2019Updated: 11:29pm, 30 Mar 2019

It is not enough for foreign soccer players who want to represent China to renounce their nationality and obtain Chinese citizenship, according to the nation’s football body.

Now, they must be educated to be patriotic, learn about the ruling Communist Party, and their clubs must report on their thoughts – whatever is on their mind – every month.

That’s according to a directive issued by the Chinese Football Association on Friday night on how to manage foreign footballers who have become Chinese citizens.

After repeated disappointments in international tournaments, the CFA has tried to attract young foreign players with Chinese ancestry to be part of the top-flight Chinese Super League and national team. At present, citizenship is only available to foreign footballers with Chinese parents or grandparents, in some of the top soccer clubs. However, since China does not recognise dual nationality, they have to be willing to give up their citizenship and apply for naturalisation as Chinese citizens.

President Xi Jinping’s long-term dream is for China’s national team to win the World Cup. Photo: Reuters

But the CFA has now taken it further, saying in the directive that clubs which sign such players must cultivate their “patriotic feelings” and arrange for them to study Chinese, learn about the culture, the country’s history and its situation today.

Foreign footballers must also be able to recognise the Chinese flag, the national emblem and sing the national anthem.

Chinese Football Association wants naturalised players to have ‘patriotic feelings’ and learn about the party

Directive issued by national soccer body says footballers who become citizens must study Chinese, the country’s culture and history Clubs are to assign staff to track players’ thoughts and performance and file a written report to the CFA every month

Directive issued by national soccer body says footballers who become citizens must study Chinese, the country’s culture and history

Clubs are to assign staff to track players’ thoughts and performance and file a written report to the CFA every month