‘Set a good example for the society’: China bans national football players from getting tattoos

China has barred footballers who play for the country’s national team from getting tattoos. It has also advised the players to remove or cover the tattoos in case they already have, as per a directive issued by the General Administration of Sport of China (GAS). 

As mentioned by a CNN report, the released directive stated that the players should set a “good example for the Chinese society”. 

“The national team and the U-23 national team athletes are strictly prohibited from having new tattoos, and those who already have tattoos are advised to remove them themselves,” the GAS statement said. 

“If there are special circumstances agreed by the team, (players) must cover up the tattoos during training and matches,” it added.

ALSO READ | Chelsea record 153.4 mn pounds loss for financial year ending in June, says COVID-19 had a ‘severe impact’

As per the new guidelines, national teams should organise activities that “strengthen the patriotic education” of athletes to “enhance the sense of mission, responsibility and honour”. 

Well, this is not the first time, such rules have been issued, in 2018, a women’s university football match in China was called off after players were told they can not have dyed hair.

The match organisers had said that athletes at all stages “shall not have tattoos, dye their hair, wear weird hairstyles, or wear any accessories”. Otherwise they will be “ineligible” for the competition.

WATCH | The weird and the wonderful from 2021 | Artists of Covid pandemic era