TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former Taiwan men’s national soccer team coach Chen Kuei-jen (陳貴人) was escorted out of a stadium in Sydney, Australia, after leading fans in chanting “Go Taiwan!” during an Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup match, per Liberty Times.
Taiwan’s women’s national team went on to defeat India 3-1, advancing to the quarterfinals as the second-place team in its group. The team is scheduled to face China in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Chen had accompanied the team to provide support during training and matches. He represented Taiwan 11 times as a player and was head coach of the Taiwan men’s national team from 2012 to 2016.
He was seated among a small but vocal group of fans before his ejection. He had also cheered enthusiastically during Taiwan’s group-stage match against Vietnam in Perth.
During the match in Sydney, Chen again led supporters in cheering but was repeatedly asked by tournament security to sit down. Although he complied, he continued cheering and officials intervened at halftime. They told him that spectators were allowed to chant only Chinese Taipei, the name Taiwan has to use at many international sporting events.
As he was escorted out of the stadium, a security staff member told him he could not use what officials considered political slogans. “I was told you cannot use political chants. If you have any objections, you can complain to the AFC,” the staff member said, according to Chen.
“Everything is alright. I hope Taiwanese soccer continues to move forward. Do not worry about this,” Chen was quoted as saying. “The most important thing is for the women’s team to keep going.”
Some Taiwanese fans at the stadium voiced strong dissatisfaction with the decision. “We are Taiwanese, not Chinese Taipei,” one fan reportedly said. “The organizers have already confiscated flags and shirts with the word ‘Taiwan’ printed on them. Now, even chanting the country’s name is being censored?”
Taiwan’s Sports Administration said the Lausanne Agreement requires Taiwan’s teams to compete under the name Chinese Taipei in International Olympic Committee-related events, commonly referred to as the Olympic model. However, it noted that unless otherwise specified in event admission rules, such regulations typically do not apply to spectators.
The Taiwan Football Association said it had been reminded to adhere to the Olympic model. Because Chen is associated with the national team, his actions could violate Article 72 of the AFC Disciplinary Code regarding political neutrality. The association added that Chen’s conduct also falls under Article 65 of the disciplinary code regarding inappropriate spectator behavior, which carries a fine starting at NT$64,000 (US$2,000).
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its representative office in Sydney immediately lodged a strong protest on Tuesday, alleging that staff at the match mistreated Taiwanese spectators. The following day, the representative office sent a letter to AFC General Secretary Windsor John protesting what it described as unequal treatment and urging organizers to uphold human rights and fair competition.
