China bans tattoos for national sports stars
China’s General Administration of Sport (GAS) has banned all tattoos and is calling on athletes, especially footballers, to have theirs removed.
GAS issued a statement on Thursday saying all national teams must strictly observe the new requirements to set a good example.
Photo Credit: ACL
There is no indication as to when the new rules will go into effect.
The GAS statement said that athletes are prohibited from getting new tattoos, while those who have been tattooed are strictly advised to have them removed.
Players can cover up their tattoos while training and at matches under special agreements, however, under the new rules, young players with tattoos will not be called to join the national squad.
There are also suggestions that the Chinese Football Association will take disciplinary action against players who breach the rules.
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GAS also requires that national teams organise “ideological and political education activities” that would “strengthen patriotic education”.
Tattoos have become more popular with Chinese athletes in recent years, and Chinese defender Zhang Linpeng has been told to have his covered up while playing for the national team and his club Guangzhou FC.
China is scheduled to face Japan in the third round of World Cup qualifiers on January 27.
