In a bizarre turn of events in Chinese football, a football team resorted to attaching yellow “witchcraft symbols” to their opponents multiple times in an attempt to ensure victory. This incident has sparked heated discussions among the public, with netizens joking that “Chinese football is becoming an entertainment show” and “once again challenging my understanding”.
On July 3rd, a news piece titled “Chinese League Two team punished for affixing yellow curses to opponents for certain defeat” surged to the top of the trending list. The incident involved League Two club “Changchun Xidu” football team placing yellow “witchcraft symbols” with the words “mandate… must lose” in the visiting team’s locker room, which was later discovered and exposed by the opponents through photos.
On July 2nd, the Chinese Football Professional League Association announced that Changchun Xidu was “criticized and fined 30,000 yuan (RMB)”. According to the announcement, in the 16th round of the League Two on June 28th, Changchun Xidu played against Shanxi Chongderonghai. Prior to the match, the staff of Changchun Xidu football club placed some “feudal superstitious” items in the visiting team’s locker room.
Although the official statement did not specify what the so-called “feudal superstitious” items were, leaked images online revealed that the Changchun Xidu staff placed yellow symbols in the visiting team’s locker room with the words “mandate Shanxi Chongderonghai must lose”, which were found by the opponents and shared online.
It is worth noting that this was not the first time the Changchun Xidu team had engaged in such behavior. According to online sources, Changchun Xidu had previously placed similar “witchcraft symbols” in the visitors’ changing rooms, especially before home matches, as a “customary” practice of the team.
Images circulating online showed the symbols with inscriptions such as “mandate Shanxi Chongderonghai must lose”, “mandate Taian Tianhe must lose”, “mandate Wuxi Wugou must lose”, placed by the Changchun Xidu football team for different opponents.
After the incident was exposed, netizens commented:
“Magical defeat of magic?”
“Chinese football is interesting, it’s almost like an entertainment show.”
“This is Chinese football, where anything can happen.”
“Chinese football once again challenges my understanding…”
Some netizens also made playful remarks:
“If the national team used this trick, they would have qualified long ago.”
“The Chinese Football Association should learn from advanced experiences! Revitalizing the national team is within reach!”
“Why not invite a sorcerer to perform on-site before or during halftime, wearing a robe, holding candles, wearing a mask, chanting spells: ‘spirits here, monsters away’… it would definitely make the visiting team tremble in fear and have weak legs, the effect would be amazing.”
Source: New Tang Dynasty