A rousing chant emerges from a sea of green and yellow at Beijing’s Workers Stadium, as soccer fans’ clenched fists illustrate the passion and optimism in the sport in China after years of hurt.
With endemic corruption eviscerating the game from within and poor standards on the pitch, there was once little to shout about for followers of “the beautiful game” in the world’s most populous country.
However, when Beijing Guoan — who currently top the Chinese Super League (CSL) — faced neighbors and fierce rivals Tianjin Teda, the intense atmosphere underscored a new sense of hope for the domestic sport.
The top tier of Chinese soccer is now the most-watched league in Asia, and in a strictly controlled society, matches offer the rare sight of tens of thousands of people in spontaneous displays of emotion, joy and anger.
The CSL is now among the soccer world’s biggest spenders, with Brazilians Ricardo Goulart and Paulinho joining current champions Guangzhou Evergrande for fees similar to those top European clubs spend on transfers.
Former Chelsea forward Demba Ba recently signed for Didier Drogba’s old club Shanghai Shenhua in another huge deal.
CSL clubs’ spending during the past winter transfer window was second only to the English Premier League, according to statistics from German Web site Transfermarkt.
A reinvigorated national team reached the quarter-finals of January’s Asian Cup and the game is also receiving top-level political support, with Chinese President Xi Jinping — who state media describe as an “avid” fan — backing a soccer reform plan in March.
The positivity — which has even seen rumors of a potential Chinese bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — stands in contrast to previous years, when Chinese soccer was riddled with corruption and the national team was regularly humiliated on the pitch.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two