Despite the tensions between China and Japan, a group of Chinese football fans gathered in a bar in Shanghai wearing Japan national team jerseys to cheer on Japan’s 4-0 victory over Tunisia in the World Cup group stage. They cheered and applauded for the Japanese team, showcasing support across borders. Online, many others also praised the performance of the Japanese team. The propaganda department of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China criticized what they described as “certain extreme voices” using Japan’s excellent performance to “denigrate and maliciously attack the Chinese nation.” This action by the official media has sparked mockery among overseas Chinese netizens.
According to reports from Agence France-Presse, Japanese team fans in Shanghai organized a viewing event at a bar on June 21, donning “Samurai Blue” jerseys to show their support. The atmosphere was jubilant each time the Japanese team scored. The organizers stated, “More importantly, because we are all part of Asia, you could also say that Japan now represents the glory and pride of Asian football.”
Not only in Shanghai, but on social media, many Chinese football fans also praised the Japanese team, calling them the “light of Asia.”
An article from the “Zhejiang Propaganda” official WeChat account yesterday acknowledged that Japanese football does indeed have merits worth learning from, but it should not be used as a basis to attack Chinese football without restraint. It criticized those who use football as a tool to deconstruct national dignity and harm national sentiments.
The article emphasized that the cheering of fans should have boundaries and should not be used as a means to promote personal agendas. Some accounts, under the guise of supporting the Japanese national team, have been spreading extreme views that transcend reasonable boundaries of football appreciation.
The Shanghai Football Association also issued a statement on June 28, urging fans to be mindful of their attire, behavior, and way of support when watching matches in public venues. It was reported that on June 29, during the Japan vs. Brazil match, several bars in Shanghai were warned by the police not to allow customers wearing Japan national team jerseys.
This incident has sparked ridicule among overseas Chinese netizens:
“Since Chinese football is not doing well, you cannot support a foreign team. It reminds me of when the launch of SpaceX’s starship was censored in China, fear + lack of confidence = not allowed to watch or support.”
“Supporting Japanese football makes one a traitor. Then, when the Communist Party defeated the Kuomintang with the help of the Japanese Kwantung Army, overthrowing the Republic of China which had won against Japan multiple times in the Far East football competition, were they traitors too?”
“Isn’t ‘Zhejiang Propaganda’ the WeChat account that was still preaching about the need to adhere to the correct and necessary practice of ‘dynamic zero COVID’ in November 2022?”
“Watching a football match and applauding a team that plays well can now be labeled as ‘deconstructing national dignity’? This is ridiculous! If the Japanese team plays well, why can’t we cheer from a technical perspective? Do we not know the level of our own national team? Preventing others from praising world-class football skills, do they want to just lock themselves up and claim a ‘mental victory’ every day?”
“Binding sports with political agendas only suffocates Chinese football fans more.”
“Now you have to pass a political review before watching the game? Can’t we just admire the skill anymore? The more they prevent us from simply appreciating, the more it shows their own insecurity. Fans are not here for political indoctrination.”
“By supporting a nation’s football team, if it doesn’t please the CCP, they become impatient; meanwhile, look at the Chinese team they lead, they don’t even mention the lack of quality, just imposing ideological politics first.”
Dubbed as “Party-loving V” and Fudan University professor Shen Yi recently made comments in a video claiming that the behavior of some Chinese football fans supporting the Japanese team is considered “treasonous.”
Netizens said, “It’s laughable, Shen Yi’s rhetoric is just ignorance and rage, right? If I can’t control your Hiromi Koji Japan government, can’t I control these Chinese fans who support the Japanese football team? This is embarrassing.”
“Each time such statements are made, is it still considered patriotic? I think those who incite hatred between nations are the real disgrace.”
“The master dictates what he must say.”
Japanese and Korean football are often seen as mirrors reflecting the situation of Chinese football, with many fans expressing that the success of neighboring countries highlights the shortcomings of their own nation.
China’s national team has failed to qualify for the World Cup since 2002. In recent years, the Chinese national team has faced successive defeats, with a 0-7 loss to the Japanese team in the 2025 World Cup qualifiers. Many have criticized the downfall of Chinese football, attributing it to the corrupt system and the absurd political interference by the Chinese Communist Party in leading football.