Chinese Football Club Fined for Using ‘Evil Spirits’ to Curse Opponents
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has slapped Changchun Xidu Football Club with a 30,000 yuan (approximately US$4,000) fine after the club was found guilty of placing Taoist talismans in an opponent’s dressing room in an attempt to influence the outcome of a League Two match.
According to the CFA, the third-tier club used “feudal superstition items”—yellow paper talismans—before their home game against Shanxi Chongde Ronghai on Saturday. The incident happened at Changchun’s home ground where they won 2-0 against the 8th placed team.
The talismans, known as fu in Taoist tradition, are believed to carry spiritual energy that can affect fortune. But the ones placed in Shanxi’s locker room had a clear message: “By imperial decree, Shanxi Chongde Ronghai will fail.” Local media reported this was not an isolated incident as similar items were found in the locker rooms of other visiting teams at Changchun Xidu’s stadium.
In its statement released on Wednesday, the CFA said: “The Chinese Football Association will resolutely and seriously deal with all kinds of violations of rules and regulations.” Using spiritual or superstitious practices to manipulate match outcomes has no place in professional football, the association emphasized.
This is not the first time Chinese football has seen ritualistic or spiritual interventions. In 2017, Henan Jianye, then at the bottom of the Chinese Super League, invited 15 Taoist priests to perform on-field ceremonies before a crucial match. They won the game and avoided relegation at the end of the season.
Currently 2nd in the League Two North Division, Changchun Xidu has 10 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws after 17 rounds, just one point behind leaders Wuxi Wuguo. The top 4 teams in the league will go to the promotion stage while the bottom 8 teams will go to the relegation playoff.
The incident has sparked debate on the role of superstition in modern football and has called for stricter supervision of matchday conduct. The CFA has not announced if further disciplinary actions or investigations will follow.
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Chinese Football Club Fined for Using ‘Evil Spirits’ to Curse Opponents