China tells its footballers to cover their tattoos

China’s footballers are the latest section of society to be told to cover up their tattoos as part of a clampdown to promote “socialist values”.

Players in China’s national side sported bandages over their arms and legs to cover body art as the country hosted a friendly international tournament, which ended yesterday.

Reports then began emerging in Chinese media that tattoos had come under scrutiny from authorities in what appeared to be the latest salvo in a war on morals that has been launched in recent years across China.