China bans tattoos for footballers! What will happen to tattooed national team players?

The Chinese regime really started to come down hard in 2021. China faces worldwide criticism for its oppression of the Uighur minority in the east of the country. This was also the year that Chinese officials began to heavily regulate and control tech giants (e.g. Alibaba, Tencent). And one of the last almost dictatorial cries came at the end of the year at the expense of football and football players.

China will ban tattoos from its national team. That is, if you are an untattooed national footballer, you will not be able to get a new tattoo. But what about tattooed national team players?

The Chinese authorities don’t really mess with individuals. They have to get the tattoo removed or cover it up in some way.

Probably the best option is to wear a long-sleeved thermal shirt in the colour of the jersey underneath. But what if China is playing in a warm country?

On the social network Twitter, this order has sparked a huge discussion. People are pointing out that China is becoming more and more like a dictatorial regime, with some also claiming that getting tattooed is each individual’s choice.

And how did the government itself justify this decision? “Athletes must set a good example for society.”

This order is applicable to all national categories and is said to apply to training units as well. According to the Chinese authorities, the new regulation is expected to affect all Chinese athletes in all sports over time.

China, however, first shone a light on football. After all, tattoos are very popular among footballers.

Source: Sky Sports News