The East Stand

The day football dyed is no laughing matter – the salad days of the Chinese game are gone, probably for good

Authorities in China are continually the butt of the football world’s jokes with bizarre rules and unusual bans

CSL clubs may no longer have their super millions to ensure they’re taken seriously

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Hulk’s departure from Shanghai SIPG, and possibly China, marks the end of an era of financial might in the Chinese game. Photo: Xinhua

Formerly of the South China Morning Post, Jonathan White has written about sport from China for nearly 15 years, and covered the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the Fifa World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Published: 8:00am, 14 Dec 2020Updated: 8:00am, 14 Dec 2020

If October 2, 2018, was the day Chinese football died, then December 5, 2020, was the day it dyed.

That was the date of the latest scandal from China to make headlines around the world; a women’s university game in Fujian province between the teams of Fuzhou University and Jimei University that never happened.

After checking players for correct footwear, full kit, shin pads and jewellery, the officials then turned to their hair.

Several players on both sides were found to have dyed hair, which was against the rules, and despite the best efforts of team staff to dye it back, Fuzhou could not field the minimum of seven players handing the win to Jimei.

The rule does not only ban hair dye. “Athletes at all stages shall not have tattoos, dye their hair, wear weird hairstyles, or wear any accessories, otherwise they will be ineligible for the competition,” state the rules from the organisers, the National Youth Campus Football League (University Division).