THE Republic of China has banned football players from getting tattoos as a mandate to set a “good example for society” while national-team players were instructed to have their existing tattoos removed or covered as issued on Tuesday.
In a directive issued by the General Administration of Sport of China (GAS) titled "Suggestions for strengthening the management of football players", the GAS advised athletes of the national team and U23 national team to remove the tattoos and prohibit them from getting new ones inked.
It also said that for teams at the under-20 level and below, the recruitment of players with tattoos was “strictly prohibited”.
According to GAS,this will fully demonstrate the positive spirit of Chinese football players and set a good example for society.
Furthermore, the measure adds that the national teams should initiate activities that "strengthen the patriotic education" of athletes to "enhance the sense of mission, responsibility and honor, and create a national team capable of conquering and fighting well and with excellent style of play."
A prominent member of the Chinese national team, international defender Zhang Linpeng, has been previously told to cover up while playing for the country and his mother club Guangzhou FC.
Some professional footballers have since been covering their arms with long sleeves to hide their body art.
Aside from the playing field, television and internet appearances by sports personalities and celebrities have been restricted in cases involving tattoos and men's ponytails to the point that in some instances these have been blurred from screens.
This is not the first time that China has tried to control their image in the national scene as it has previously been reported that the government has intervened in a women’s football match after players were told they were prohibited from playing with dyed hair.
Tags: #football, #tattoos, #bodymarkings, #China, #restriction