Chinese soccer club fined for placing ‘feudal superstitious items’ in away locker room

A Chinese soccer club has been fined by the Chinese Professional Football League (CFL) for placing ‘feudal superstitious items’ in the away team’s dressing room.

Changchun Xidu FC, who play in China League Two — the nation’s third division — have been fined 30,000 yuan (£3,070, $4,100) for the incident against Shanxi Chongde Ronghai on June 28.

A statement from the CFL said the club had “placed a number of feudal superstitious items in the away team’s dressing room” before the match, and in accordance with the CFL’s Discipline and Ethics Code, they had breached Article 115 and Article 116.

A report in the Shanghai-based City News Service claims how photos that had been widely shared online showed yellow paper charms inscribed with messages such as: “By decree, Shanxi Chongde Ronghai must be defeated.”

“The CFL will resolutely and seriously deal with all kinds of violations of regulations and disciplines in accordance with the provisions of the Discipline and Ethics Code,” the CFL statement added. “This is in place to purify the atmosphere of the stadium, and for all participants to jointly maintain the order of the game and hard-won environment.”

Changchun Xidu, second in the China League Two standings, won the match 2-0.

(Catherine Ivill – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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