Football: Passions run high for China fans
Former Chelsea forward Demba Ba recently signed for Didier Drogba's old club
BEIJING (AFP) - A rousing chant emerges from a sea of green and yellow at Beijing s Workers Stadium, as football fans clenched fists illustrate the passion and optimism in Chinese football after years of hurt.
With endemic corruption eviscerating the game from within and poor standards on the pitch, there was once little to shout about for followers of the Beautiful Game in the world s most populous country.
But when Beijing Guoan -- who currently top the Chinese Super League (CSL) -- faced neighbours and fierce rivals Tianjin Teda, the intense atmosphere underscored a new sense of hope for the domestic sport.
The top tier of Chinese football is now the most watched league in Asia, and in a strictly controlled society matches offer the rare sight of tens of thousands of people in spontaneous displays of emotion, joy and anger.
The CSL is now among the football world s biggest spenders, with Brazilians Ricardo Goulart and Paulinho joining current champions Guangzhou Evergrande for fees similar to those top European clubs spend on transfers.
Former Chelsea forward Demba Ba recently signed for Didier Drogba s old club Shanghai Shenhua in another huge deal.
CSL clubs spending during the last winter transfer window was second only to the English Premier League, according to statistics from German website Transfermarkt.
A re-invigorated national team reached the quarter-finals of January s Asian Cup, and the game is also receiving top level political support with Chinese President Xi Jinping -- who state media describe as an "avid" fan -- backing a "football reform plan" in March.
The positivity -- which has even seen rumours of a potential Chinese bid for the 2026 World Cup -- stands in contrast to previous years when Chinese football was riddled with corruption and the national team was regularly humiliated on the pitch.
