Such footage of unmasked fans was conspicuously absent from China’s coverage of the World Cup.
In football, the phrase “football is nothing without fans” is so well known that it has even become a mantra for some commentators. But during the World Cup, Chinese state media disputed that claim.
When Ghana beat South Korea in a classic World Cup clash on Monday (November 28), China streamlined their coverage of the match to ensure viewers didn’t see images of fans not wearing masks and seeing a world emerge from the restrictions of the new corona epidemic.
Those who watch the match on the BBC and in most parts of the world will have seen the smiling, maskless Ghanaian fans cheering excitedly as the camera zoomed in.
When Mohammed Kudus scored in the 68th minute, images of Ghanaian fans dancing and cheering on one side and anxious South Koreans on the other went around the world.
But China is not among them. Spectators watching the match on Chinese sports channel CCTV (CCTV 5) will experience the moment differently.
Instead of the boisterous fans, Chinese viewers saw the reactions of South Korea’s coach Paulo Bento and Ghana’s coach Otto Addo.
And when the game ended, there was obviously no scene of Korean fans with their heads in tears during the broadcast in China.
There were not even color photos of downed South Korean supporters in the report.
The change is small, but very deliberate.
As anti-lockdown protests have rocked the country, Chinese state television officials have been careful not to send images of a world largely free of coronavirus restrictions into homes.
It is not uncommon for broadcasters of major events to be able to choose their view of the frame and some broadcasters often insert a slight delay so that the footage can be edited and selected before viewers see it.
According to the BBC’s observation, there is a delay of around 52 seconds between CCTV5 and the BBC broadcast screen.
In this case, the changes appeared to have come after images of unmasked fans celebrating to packed stadiums sparked outrage in China. Quick lockdowns and quarantines remain commonplace and controversial in China.
Chinese social media users were quick to take notice of the change, with many expressing frustration that the rest of the world was treating the virus so differently.
Last week, an open letter quickly circulated on WeChat, questioning China’s ongoing “zero” policy and asking whether China and Qatar “aren’t on the same planet.”
“On one side of the world is the World Cup carnival, on the other is the rule not to enter public places for five days (arriving in Shanghai),” wrote a Weibo user.
Even the state-run Global Times acknowledged that with restrictions still in place in many Chinese cities, some fans are “choosing to watch games at home with their families”.
While wide-angle shots of some fans not wearing masks can’t be completely avoided, close-ups of fans enjoying the unrestricted game are unlikely to come back for Chinese fans.
