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.
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