Tattoos banned in Chinese League

Media reports said the players had been told to cover up their ink work while playing for China, who are coached by Marcello Lippi Several players in the 0- 6 thrashing by Wales and in Monday’s 1- 4 defeat to the Czech Republic wore bandages on their arms

Shanghai, March 27: Disillusioned Chinese fans have blamed the country’s football authorities for the national side’s latest heavy defeats amid reports that the players have been banned from displaying tattoos.

Several players in the 0- 6 thrashing by Wales last week and in Monday’s 1- 4 defeat to the Czech Republic wore bandages on their arms or long sleeves.

Media reports said the players had been told to cover up their ink work while playing for China, who are coached by the ● Italian World Cup winner Marcello Lippi.

China’s most heavily tattooed player, central defender Zhang Linpeng, did not feature in either of the two home defeats in the China Cup despite normally being a first choice.

He was officially left out because of injury, but some fans suggested he ● had been dropped because of numerous tattoos on his arms and neck.

Chinese footballers are not generally as heavily tattooed as their international counterparts. But the growing trend has caught the government’s attention as it cracks down on what it sees as behaviour contrary to the ruling Communist Party’s “values and morals”.

In Monday’s defeat by the Czech Republic, midfielder Cai Huikang wore long sleeves that covered up his tattoos and fellow substitute Wei Shihao had a bandage that masked the ink on his left bicep.

There has been no official ban from the Chinese Football Association ( CFA), but reports in local media say a ruling is imminent and it could be part of a larger move against Chinese sportsmen with tattoos.

Lin Dan, regarded as the best badminton player of all time, is among the Chinese stars who would have to cover up.

China have improved since the 69- year- old Lippi took over the charge in October 2016, but he was unable to get them to this summer’s World Cup and they have now suffered two heavy losses in five days in front of their own home crowd. — AFP