China’s sports ministry has banned tattoos for national team footballers and urged those who do. ” to take off “, at a time when the communist power intends to put a brake on trends considered vulgar.
From music to online games, via reality TV and private lessons, China has been trying in recent months to regain control of its youth and to impose virile values, as opposed to a moral decadence that would come from abroad . Also in the viewfinder, the contents “Vulgar” broadcast on the small screen and social networks, called to focus instead on the values “Patriotic”. The Chinese audiovisual regulator has called in recent months to establish beauty criteria “Correct” and to banish men “Effeminate” and the “Vulgar influencers”.
The footballers of the national team have now “The formal ban on having new tattoos”, the sports ministry announced on Tuesday, inviting those who have it to do so ” to take off “. “In the event of special circumstances (…) tattoos should be covered ” during training and competitions, the ministry said in a statement, which prohibits the recruitment of any tattooed athlete.
David Beckham blurred in documentary
Tattoos are generally frowned upon in China, which remains overwhelmingly a conservative society. But they have some success in big cities especially with the younger generation.
The measure was variously appreciated by football fans. “Should we choose a good player or a saint?” “, asked a supporter on the social network Weibo.
This is not the first time that aesthetics are invited in Chinese football. The Federation had already ordered players to cover their tattoos in recent years. Football legend David Beckham appeared blurred last year in a documentary on Chinese public television. A women’s college football match was also canceled last year … after a ban on players dyeing their hair.
