China table tennis association to push for venue ban list after fan abuse
In short
The Chinese Table Tennis Association said on 7 October that some extreme fans have persistently insulted, spread rumors about and personally attacked national team coaches and athletes, both online and at venues. The association said it has helped those affected report to public security organs and will push to establish a venue ban list and strengthen on-site order.
Read the full story 1 min read
The Chinese Table Tennis Association released a statement on 7 October on resisting extreme fan behavior, saying it will push to establish a venue ban list system and strengthen on-site order maintenance. The statement said the association firmly protects the lawful rights and interests of coaches and athletes. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
According to the statement, the association has observed that some extreme fans have persistently insulted, spread rumors about and personally attacked national team coaches and athletes, with the behavior spreading from competition venues to the internet and then back to venues. It said some athletes were disturbed by such behavior during matches, and that an individual extreme fan gestured with a middle finger and insulted a coach at the sideline. Coaches and athletes have continued to receive abusive text messages, harassing phone calls and social media messages, the association said, seriously disrupting their normal training, competition and daily life. [ 1 , 5 ]
The association said it has assisted the athletes and coaches concerned in reporting to public security organs in order to pursue the legal responsibility of those involved. It said it will also work with relevant departments to handle, in accordance with laws and regulations, what it described as untrue information concerning team management, competition arrangements, athlete selection and coaching lineup decisions. [ 1 , 5 ]
The statement closed by saying that every honor of the Chinese table tennis team is built on the efforts of generations of athletes and coaches and on fans' long-standing support, and that the association wants to work with fans, media, event organizers and others to build what it called a rational, civilized and inclusive table tennis culture, adding that enthusiasm should have warmth, expression should have limits and venues should have order. [ 1 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The statement is an official acknowledgment by the sport's national governing body that harassment of coaches and athletes has moved from online platforms into competition venues. A venue ban list would give organizers a formal exclusion tool, though the association gave no detail on how it would work. The association also said it would work with relevant departments on what it called false information about team management, lineup and athlete selection.
Key facts
- The Chinese Table Tennis Association published a statement on 7 October on resisting extreme fan behavior that crosses boundaries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The association said it will push to establish a venue ban list system and strengthen on-site order maintenance. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The statement said some extreme fans have persistently insulted, spread rumors about and personally attacked national team coaches and athletes. [ 1 , 5 ]
- According to the statement, the behavior spread from venues to the internet and back to venues. [ 1 , 5 ]
- The statement said a coach was met with a middle finger gesture and insults from the sideline, and that coaches and athletes continued to receive abusive messages, harassing calls and social media messages. [ 1 , 5 ]
- The association said it has assisted the athletes and coaches concerned in reporting to public security organs to pursue legal responsibility. [ 1 , 5 ]
- The association said it will work with relevant departments to handle what it called untrue information about team management, competition arrangements, athlete use and coaching lineup decisions. [ 1 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Chinese Table Tennis Association released a statement on 7 October about resisting extreme fan behavior. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The association said it will push to establish a venue ban list system and strengthen venue order. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The statement said coaches and athletes have been subjected to insults, rumors and personal attacks by some extreme fans. [ 1 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- How the proposed venue ban list would work, who would administer it and when it would take effect. The documents say only that the association will push to establish the system, with no mechanism or timetable given.
- Whether public security organs have opened investigations or made any arrests after the association assisted with reports. The statement says only that the association assisted athletes and coaches in reporting to police to pursue legal responsibility; no outcome is stated.
- Which coaches or athletes were targeted, and at which competitions the incidents occurred. The statement describes the incidents in general terms without naming individuals or events.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- China News Service publishes the association's full statement, including the plan for a venue ban list. [ 1 ]
- Yicai carries the association's statement. [ 2 ]
- CLS reports the statement, citing the association's pledge to protect coaches and athletes. [ 3 ]
- Xinhua publishes the association's statement. [ 4 ]
- Jiemian publishes the statement in full. [ 5 ]