China Riotous Fans

The final whistle had sounded. Before a crowd of 80,000 in Peking's Workers' Stadium, Hong Kong had knocked China out of contention for the 1986 World Cup, and the Chinese players, humiliated by their 2-1 defeat, stormed off the soccer field without so much as a handshake for their opponents. Then the real action began. From the stands, angry fans unleashed a volley of soda bottles. Soon hordes of spectators poured onto the field in pursuit of the victors, forcing the Hong Kong team to flee to a room reserved for dignitaries. Others besieged the home team's locker room, smashing windows and calling for the coach's resignation.

Outside the stadium, mob rule prevailed. Hundreds of enraged fans stopped buses, taxis and cars, bashing in windows with bricks, bottles and anything else they could lay their hands on. They harassed several journalists and diplomats. In addition, 30 police officers were beaten, four seriously. Nearly 130 fans were arrested, three of whom will receive public trials.

Following the riot, the People's Daily, the official party newspaper, speculated that the incident was triggered by "inadequate education for youth about civil behavior and the law." Municipal officials called for more ideological training in schools. Official anger may succeed in reining in China's rowdy soccer fans for a while. But Western diplomats, and even some Chinese, suggest that less, not more discipline is needed. They see the riot as a cathartic release of emotions that have had little opportunity for expression in a society where hard work, obedience and humility are demanded. "Some people would find any excuse to march, to act, to mob," says one Peking observer.

China first began having trouble with its soccer crowds in 1980, when 50 fans were arrested and fined for setting off firecrackers and hurling broken glass during a match between the National Football team and Britain's Norwich City. Just last month party officials issued instructions for maintaining order and promoting good sportsmanship at soccer matches. Deng Xiaoping, China's de facto leader, is sensitive to public rowdiness because his leftist opponents within the Communist Party are quick to criticize any signs of "bourgeois" trends in Chinese society. As Peking's Sports News sermonized on its front page last week, "Athletic events are a window on socialist spiritual civilization."

The bad publicity particularly upset the Chinese because of its timing. They will be hosts to the Asian Games in 1990, and are expected to make a bid to stage the Summer Olympics in the year 2000.