"When Keir Starmer met Xi Jinping recently, reporters said the British prime minister was shocked at his Chinese counterpart calling Crystal Palace Palace, liking Manchester City and Arsenal and supporting Manchester United. The reasons can be guessed. Fan Zhiyi was popular at Selhurst Park in the late 1990s, Sun Jihai was a cult hero at Maine Road and Manchester United had Dong Fangzhuo. The president of the world's second most populous country and second biggest economy didn't, however, mention Everton."
"Li Tie spent four seasons at Goodison Park, playing the most in his first, 2002-03, with 29 Premier League appearances. The Chinese international moved into coaching on returning home and managed the national team from 2019 to 2021. Since December 2024, he has been in prison, serving 20 years on charges of taking bribes. Since last Thursday, he has been banned from all football activities for life."
"Last season was a good one with attendances averaging more than 25,000, the best in Asia and higher than a decade earlier when the league was dominated by big names. Those fans saw a genuine title race, a four-way fight for much of the campaign and three for almost all. On the final day, Shanghai Port pipped Shanghai Shenhua by two points to take a third successive title. Chengdu Rongcheng were third, despite being in pole position with just a few weeks to go."
Xi Jinping's known affinity for several English clubs contrasts with the omission of Everton, despite several Chinese players having played at Goodison Park. Li Tie had a four-season playing spell at Everton, later managed the national team, and was jailed in December 2024 for bribery with a 20-year sentence before receiving a lifetime ban from football. The ministry of public security, general administration of sport and the Chinese FA coordinated further punishments as part of a zero-tolerance campaign. The measures will strongly influence the 2026 Chinese Super League, which follows a 2024 season marked by high attendances and a tight title race.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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