More than 50 pro-Taiwan football fans armed with ROC flags turned up for the bronze-medal match between China and South Korea yesterday, despite admonitions to leave their country's colors at home.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) earlier asked soccer fans not to bring the nation's flag to games of the AFC Women's Championship.
But that didn't stop some fans. At yesterday's game to decide the bronze medal, fans waved the nation's flag and held up posters at the match in which China trounced South Korea 8-0.
"Welcome China to our country -- Taiwan," one poster read.
Fans yesterday said they brought the flags to demonstrate the unfair treatment Taiwan receives at international sporting events.
"Mayor Ma said at the grand opening of the series that he hoped the public would not to bring Taiwan's national flags to the stadium," said Wang Chung-lung (王中瀧), who helped organize fans yesterday through his Web site, Against the Media.
"But Chinese Taipei's flags are OK. All of us think it's ridiculous. This is Taiwan and we are holding our own national flags.
"If the Chinese can wave their flags, we can, too!"
Wang yesterday bristled at the notion that an ROC citizen would be inviting trouble by waving the nation's flag.
"What is wrong with that?" Wang said. "And we don't have any law saying that a Taiwanese citizen cannot hold or display Taiwan's national flags in public, do we?"
Wang's Web site is made up of Internet surfers frustrated by the pro-unification slant of Taiwan's media.
Its members post opinions that often dissect news stories that appear in TV, radio or print media.
Lin Chong-pin (林中斌), vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, said in October that international sports activities held in Taiwan would follow the "Olympic mode."
That means Taiwan's team must be referred to as "Chinese Taipei" and Taiwan's Olympic flag instead of the national flag must be raised.
"But the `Olympic mode' is only valid inside the stadium," Lin said.
"Visitors waving national flags at the scene or putting up flags outside the stadium is fine, as long as they are not affecting the games."
A group of 20 members from the Taiwan Association of University Professors was also present in the stands yesterday, waving the nation's flag and holding posters.
"It is just a self recognition of Taiwanese people," said Tsay Ting-kuei (蔡丁貴), secretary-general of the association.
"If you respect yourself first, other people will respect you afterward," Tsay said.
"For Taiwanese people, we should recognize ourselves and be brave enough to introduce ourselves as Taiwanese."
There were no incidents reported at yesterday's match. Police officers and AFC workers helped maintain order throughout the game.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
RSS