Cheering Squads to Rally Chinese in Sportsmanship

Shocked by a soccer riot in Peking two months ago, China is organizing “civilized audience cheering squads” to root for both sides at future games and oversee the nature of fan enthusiasm.

After China lost to Hong Kong, 2 to 1, in a World Cup qualifying game May 19, thousands of fans pelted players and foreign spectators, vandalized cars and buses and assaulted 30 policemen. Five youths were sentenced to jail. China’s senior national team was disbanded, and its coach resigned.

The nation’s news media anguished for weeks over the cause and effect of the melee. Most analysts said the fans felt that China had been humiliated by losing to a team from the British colony.

On Wednesday, China Youth News and Sports News reported that cheering squads will “create a warm atmosphere” to guide fans who get worked up during a game. The squads will cheer both teams, they said.

The cheering squads will make their first practice run at a Shanghai tournament July 18, then get a further workout during the inaugural under-16 Kodak Cup world soccer tournament scheduled for July 31-Aug. 11 in Peking, Shanghai, Tianjin and Dalian. Teams from 16 countries are entered in the event.