Sports officials yesterday said they would appeal an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) decision to fine Taiwan’s national soccer body US$5,000, issued after spectators displayed a flag promoting Taiwanese independence at a game in Kaohsiung.
Chinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA) secretary-general Chen Wei-jen (陳威任) confirmed receiving a letter from the AFC Disciplinary Committee regarding the June 2 match, the first leg of Taiwan’s Asian Cup qualifier against Cambodia, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
“[The fine] was directed at fans displaying a Taiwanese independence-style flag at that game,” Chen said. “The AFC deemed that it breached regulations against the exhibition of political flags and slogans at international matches. We regret the fans’ action and hope people do not mix politics and sports.”
According to AFC rules, the CTFA has seven days to file an appeal.
It said it plans to do so.
“We are preparing a letter to appeal the decision. We will explain the situation from the June 2 match and provide our perspective on the matter,” Chen said.
The flag showed a green outline of Taiwan and its outlying islands on a white square with a green background, a design that is often displayed at gatherings of pro-Taiwan independence supporters.
Some promote it as a potential Taiwanese national flag.
It was displayed at the stadium — draped over bleachers and close to the field — by spectators who also held signs to protest the use of “Chinese Taipei,” which national sports teams typically use.
They held banners that read: “Taiwan is Taiwan. We are not Chinese Taipei” and “Let’s go, team Taiwan.”
Chen said he did not think the fine was due to political pressure from China, although there is a Chinese official, Zhang Jilong (張吉龍), among the five AFC vice presidents, while a number of AFC executive members are from Pakistan, North Korea, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan and other countries with perceived good relationships with China.
“I think Chinese soccer officials are too busy with other things to have a hand in this matter,” Chen said. “CTFA officials asked fans not to display banners, slogans and other material of a political nature, but they were determined to present their views and refused to take them down,” he said. “Also we did have the authority to remove the flags and banners by force.”
Officials said the letter referred to Taiwanese fans breaching AFC Disciplinary Code Article 68 — regarding liability for spectator conduct — imposing a fine for “improper conduct on ... displaying insulting, religious or political slogans in any form, uttering insulting words or sounds, or invading the pitch.”
Chen said the report along with photographs was filed by the match commissioner, a Palestinian, who was in charge of spectator conduct and other off-field matters.
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