The directive — titled “Suggestions for strengthening the management of football players” — lays out disciplinary necessities for nationwide staff gamers.
“Athletes of the national team and U23 national team are strictly prohibited from having new tattoos,” learn the directive, which was issued Tuesday.
“Those who have tattoos are advised to remove tattoos by themselves. In cases of special circumstances, tattoos must be covered during training and competition after the consent of the team.”
National groups at Under-20 ranges are forbidden from recruiting new athletes with tattoos,” in line with the directive.
The measures “absolutely exhibit the constructive spirit of Chinese soccer gamers and set a great instance for society,” said the GAS statement.
The directive added that national teams should organize activities that “strengthen the patriotic training” of athletes to “improve the sense of mission, duty and honor, and create a nationwide staff able to conquering and combating properly and with glorious type of play.”
This isn’t the first time China has targeted tattoos.
In 2018, China’s media regulator issued an edict saying Chinese television “shouldn’t characteristic actors with tattoos,” during a crackdown on “hip hop tradition, sub-culture and immoral tradition.”
Images with tattoos had been required to be blurred earlier than they could possibly be proven on TV.