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Nicolas Atkin

Chinese fans wearing Son Heung-min football jerseys were subjected to abuse as China lost 3-0 to South Korea in their Fifa World Cup qualifier.
Tottenham superstar Son scored twice and then set up the other goal as the hosts were outclassed by Jurgen Klinsmann’s side on Tuesday night.
The 31-year-old forward had been mobbed by home fans and given a hero’s welcome when he arrived at the airport with his international teammates in China this week.
But video footage emerged on the Chinese social media platform Weibo after the match showing multiple unsavoury incidents involving fans wearing replica Tottenham shirts bearing Son’s name at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre.

One Chinese fan wearing a white Spurs jersey in the home stands during the match was seen seemingly making provocative gestures to other fans.
Another video showed him being mobbed and grabbed by angry supporters in China national team shirts.
In another video, he was then seen taking the shirt off and holding it up in the air, but was booed and had water bottles thrown at him by supporters in the same section.

A Chinese fan put on Son Hueng-min's Tottenham Hotspur kit in the crowds. It seems that he was showing provocative gestures. pic.twitter.com/9WAoa2HOAK
— China Sports Vision 2050 (@CSV2050) November 22, 2023

He was later taken away by security, according to video footage on Weibo, and popular Chinese football commentator Sun Yuxuan had little sympathy.
“At the home game of the national football team, holding up the jersey to provoke the home fans is purely asking for trouble,” Son wrote to his 2.1 million followers on his Weibo microblog.
Other videos also went viral on social media showing two Chinese fans of Son being escorted out of the stadium by police after the match.

The Chinese fan(s) wearing Son Heung-min's kit who had a brawl with surrounding fans are taken away by the security. The surrounding fans were yelling. pic.twitter.com/nri70YXYgE
— China Sports Vision 2050 (@CSV2050) November 22, 2023

Pictures showed they had been wearing Son jerseys in the stands and were involved in physical altercations with other fans.
But their jerseys were now concealed with jackets as a large group of angry home fans surrounded them outside the stadium, calling them traitors and throwing projectiles.
One person was seen aiming a kick at one of the fans, prompting the police and the fans to start running away as an angry mob chased them.
“Switching to a No 7 Tottenham jersey, you are arrogant for a while and sad later,” a user on Weibo wrote regarding the incident. “As a Chinese, you can wear the uniform you like, you can also like your stars, and you can cheer for your favourite team, but you cannot despise and provoke the Chinese, because you are also Chinese.”

Other social media users commended the behaviour of the angry home supporters, and said the Son fans were lucky they did not get seriously hurt.
“If you dare to do this in the Premier League home fan zone, you won’t be able to see the sun tomorrow,” read a comment on one of the videos.
“Why doesn’t he wear a Tottenham jersey and sit in the Arsenal stands? Then I respect him as a man,” another user joked.
“If you ask for a hammer, you will be hammered. Maybe you want to be famous and want to go crazy,” someone else said, while another comment insisted that “no other country would tolerate this! They deserve it”.
Another user said “it’s wrong to hit someone” but that what the fans were wearing was “obviously intentional”.
“If you just walk quietly, it wouldn’t be like this,” read a response. “As long as there are no obvious unfriendly behaviours, it should be fine. Many people go there to chase stars. The premise of chasing stars is not to cause discomfort to others.”


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Chinese ‘traitors’ wearing Son Heung-min shirts mobbed by angry home fans during loss to South Korea

A fan who had been wearing a Son Heung-min jersey is escorted away by police as angry Chinese supporters surrounded him outside the stadium in Shenzhen. Photo: Weibo

Son Heung-min celebrates a goal against China with his teammates. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese fans wearing Son Heung-min’s Tottenham jerseys pose together outside the stadium. Photo: Weibo

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Son Heung-min celebrates his opening goal for South Korea against China in their 2026 Fifa World Cup Asian qualifier in Shenzhen. Photo: Xinhua

Son Heung-min wheels away after scoring from the penalty spot. Photo: Xinhua

Son Heung-min waves to supporters after starring in the group C match between China and South Korea. Photo: Xinhua

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Son Heung-Min celebrates scoring South Korea’s opening goal in Shenzhen. Photo: Reuters

Son Heung-min of South Korea makes his signature camera gesture after scoring the team’s first goal from the penalty spot. Photo: EPA-EFE

Tan Long of China reacts after missing a chance to score. Photo: Xinhua

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China coach Shui Qingxia (centre), consoles Chen Qiaozhu (right) after a Group B AFC Women’s Olympic Asian Qualifying game against South Korea. Photo: Xinhua

Shui Qingxia and her players applaud the fans after their match against South Korea on November 1. Photo: Xinhua

Shui Qingxia was the first female coach of the Steel Roses. Photo: Xinhua

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Fans wave the Palestinian flag during the World Cup Asian qualifier between Qatar and Afghanistan in Doha. Photo: AFP

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Qatar forward Tameem Al-Abdullah celebrates scoring against Afghanistan. Photo: AFP

Sport

Football

China

Videos go viral on social media showing fans in Tottenham jerseys being subjected to physical and verbal abuse in the stands in Shenzhen
Several supporters wearing Son shirts escorted out of stands by police and called ‘traitors’ by national team fans


Supporters in Tottenham jerseys with Son Heung-min’s name subjected to physical and verbal abuse in the stands in Shenzhen and escorted out by police amid ugly scenes.


Fifa World Cup 2026

Fifa World Cup

Chinese ‘traitors’ wearing Son Heung-min shirts mobbed by angry home fans during loss to South Korea

Videos go viral on social media showing fans in Tottenham jerseys being subjected to physical and verbal abuse in the stands in Shenzhen Several supporters wearing Son shirts escorted out of stands by police and called ‘traitors’ by national team fans

Videos go viral on social media showing fans in Tottenham jerseys being subjected to physical and verbal abuse in the stands in Shenzhen

Several supporters wearing Son shirts escorted out of stands by police and called ‘traitors’ by national team fans