The Chinese General Administration of Sports has issued a set of rules prohibiting members of the national team from getting new tattoos.
Tattoos have previously triggered a debate in Chinese football, with players reportedly being prohibited from having them in 2018.
The directive aims to encourage footballers to be “good role models for society,” and it advises players with tattoos to cover them up, while youth teams are forbidden from bringing up tattooed players.
Meanwhile, China’s national team has a tiny chance of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and they haven’t qualified for a World Cup since 2002 in South Korea and Japan.
Despite China’s efforts to promote football in the country, the national team has consistently failed over the last two decades, and the government has been criticized for the squad’s poor performances.
