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| moreAboutEastAsia |
| 08.09.2004 The Straits Times Chinese media praises football fans' self-control Fears of large-scale riots proved unfounded after China lost in the Asian Cup final to Japan; fans vent their anger online instead BEIJING - The relatively peaceful ending of Saturday's Asian Cup final, fought between China and Japan, testifies to the self-control and cool-headedness of most Chinese football fans, the Chinese media has commented. However, the antagonism towards Japan continued to sizzle on the Internet, signifying an urgent need for Beijing and Tokyo to resolve their historical differences before their teams get to meet again, it is also noted. China's media did not mention the sporadic anti-Japanese protests that took place after the match, which China lost 3-1 to the visitors, preferring to limit its coverage to the football game. The Chinese media generally rated China's hosting of its first-ever Asian Cup a success, the jeering and booing at the Japanese which dogged the tournament notwithstanding. 'From the 22 days of exciting football, beginning with the booing at the opening ceremony to the grief of some 70,000 fans in the final, we must say this has been a very successful event,' Soccer Daily said in a front-page editorial. Hong Kong's Ming Pao Daily News also remarked that Chinese football fans had always demonstrated more civilised behaviour than many of their counterparts in Europe. 'In fact, the enhanced security is unnecessary as there is always a ceiling to their outpouring,' the paper said in its editorial yesterday. But mainland sports commentator Li Chengpeng probably reflected the sentiment after the match most accurately. 'For China to lose to Japan is hugely depressing since the two countries still have many historical and war-time scores to settle,' the Chinese website Sina quoted him as saying. 'The depression is so crushing that most of us have become speechless. The pain is even more acute for those who realise China might remain second fiddle to Japan for many years to come.' Saturday's match was the high point of a tournament that many Chinese saw as a chance for vicarious revenge against their World War II aggressor. But stern warnings from the country's top leaders and the enhanced security probably helped to prevent any large-scale riot following China's rout. Still, website forums such as those of the official People's Daily were instantly flooded with abusive remarks against Japan, the referee and even the Chinese team once the game ended, Hong Kong's Apple Daily said. 'Shameless little Japan had won by handing the ball,' wrote one surfer, referring to a controversial goal scored by the Japanese team. 'The blind referee ought to be executed.' 'To expect our football team to bash up Japan is to ask for humiliation,' wrote another. 'It's a self-delusion no different from asking for the moon.' 'Only a dictatorial country would edit out all the booing from the telecast,' screamed another surfer. Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily News warned that this sort of football nationalism is dangerous as it may lead to civilisational wars. 'Such frenzied nationalism must be reined in. How to resolve wisely the differences between China and Japan and how to deal with a football match are good tests of the maturity |
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