Hot words: China Cup International Football Championship

中國杯 (zhōngguó bēi)

In an interview after China's match with Uzbekistan in the China Cup on Monday evening, Wei Shihao, a 24-year-old forward and one of the most promising young stars of the Chinese national team, showed no regret for his dangerous tackle-from-behind foul that resulted in a Uzbekistan midfielder being out injured for at least two months.

When he was told that his reckless challenge had resulted in a serious injury to the Uzbekistan player, Wei said that the Chinese team had not touched the ball for nearly 10 minutes and he did it to slow the pace of the match, and getting injured is normal for professional football players, hinting that what he had done was natural and should not cause a fuss.

Although he apologized three hours later, Wei's interview laid bare his lack of sportsmanship and respect for his opponents. Most Chinese football fans feel ashamed of his challenge and his words. It is justified for the people to question whether it makes sense to continue to host the expensive China Cup, the only international football championship named after the country, if it only brings shame on Chinese football.

Wei's unprofessional performance on and off the field, together with China's successive defeats to Thailand and Uzbekistan, and the national team's lack of desire, let alone ability, to win in the March 21-25 China Cup International Football Championship in Nanning in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, have put the country's "money talks" football development model under broad public censure.

The China Cup, sponsored by a real estate tycoon from Dalian, Liaoning province, dates back to 2017 and was widely regarded as a well-paid match for foreign participants. Reportedly, it costs at least 30 million yuan ($4.47 million) each year to pay the other three foreign teams' appearance fees (for two matches), living and traveling costs, and prize money.

Eight of the 23 Chinese national team players, including Wei, are from a club in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, which has become one of the strongest teams among Asian clubs through buying players in several years. As before, they carefully protect themselves for their club employers, putting national pride and sense of responsibility as national team members out of their minds.

Money should be spent on youth training, not in buying honors and titles. Before that happens, the China Cup will continue to reflect the problems in Chinese football.