China's last match in the EAFF Football Championship against Hong Kong was more than just another game.
After they failed to defeat Japan and South Korea, it was China’s last chance to win and to finish in third place. The problem was that for Hong Kong, this match meant even more.
Before kick off, the two teams were ready for singing the national anthems, which is the Chinese anthem for both sides. As the first note of the anthem was played, the fans from Hong Kong started to shout. Some of them turned their backs to the field. On the stands, the British colonial flag was waved instead of the current Chinese regional flag.
This incident was only a part of a complicated political week, where China and the rest of the world clashed on the football field.
The leading story was in England, when Arsenal player, Mesut Özil, has supported the Uyghurs in China. He criticized the treatment of the minority by the Chinese government, including detentions in re-education camps. That issue is known abroad for a year, but it raised the discourse about civil rights in China.
As a result, the Chinese television decided to cancel the broadcast of Arsenal's match against Manchester City last Sunday. Moreover, it was clear that games with Mesut Özil would probably not air anymore in China. It wasn't the first time that Özil is involved in a political dispute, but now the consequences could be severe. According to the reports, Özil may find himself out of the club. Former Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, said about the incident that "when you make a comment about your individual opinion, you accept the consequences."
The world is facing enormous pressure when it comes to a decision that should be taken with the Chinese market. France recently rescheduled matches in order to fit the hours of Chinese viewers, just as Spain and Italy have done before. Germany and China had signed a long term partnership but had to terminate it after civil rights activists waved Tibet flags when China U-20 team played against a local club.
On the other hand, some clubs and nations refuse to be linked with China. For example, FC Köln decided to withdraw from the joint football academy project in the country. Stefan Müller-Römer, the head of the club's fan council, said that the club should not cooperate with China due to the massive disrespect of human rights. "China has built up a total surveillance state," he said in an interview to a local newspaper.
This decision was taken in the same week as Özil's incident, but its build-up started more than a month ago and due to another Chinese political dispute – the ongoing protests in Hong Kong. In previous months, the citizens of Hong Kong are protesting against an amendment bill relating to criminal matters and extradition that was proposed by the local government. The citizens were afraid that approving that bill will lead Hong Kong to a status change from being an autonomous special administrative region to be subject to mainland China and its ruling.
The protests in Hong Kong didn't pass on the football stadiums. In September, when Hong Kong hosted Iran at the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, FIFA made a request from the Hong Kong FA to move the match to a neutral venue. The request was removed later, the game was played in Hong Kong, but the local FA found themselves in other problem with FIFA. After the fans booed and whistled the Chinese national anthem, FIFA ruled a 15,000 Swiss Francs fine for disturbing the anthem.
That unusual punishment made FC Köln fans react. The team's ultra group, Wilde Horde 96, has published a flyer with criticism against FIFA's decision and supporting the Hong Kong citizens. They also called the team's board to stop cooperation with China. "Human rights and freedom are more important than all the Yuan in the world," the flyer said.
The match between China and Hong Kong in the EAFF Football Championship was just another sign of the protests against the local government. "Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times," was written in one of the banners that were raised.
While people are raising their voices against the Chinese regime, from Hong Kong in the South-East to the Uyghurs in the North-West - in Europe, there is no doubt which side they are supporting: Any form of freedom of speech can be thrown out of the window, the only goal is to keep the Chinese market satisfied enough.