The idea that “football without fans is nothing” is so widely accepted that it is considered a cliché among sports commentators. But during this World Cup, state television in China is testing this idea in an extreme way.
State television made sure to make subtle changes to Monday’s coverage of Ghana’s victory over South Korea, which some consider a classic World Cup match, to ensure that spectators do not see images of fans without masks and a world without insidious restrictions.
In most parts of the world, viewers will see on their screens an image of a Ghanaian fan celebrating without a mask as the camera zooms in on him.
Version
After Mohammed Kudus scored the winning goal in the 68th minute, images of cheering and dancing fans were broadcast around the world, as well as footage of impatient fans from South Korea.
In China, these moments were experienced differently, especially for viewers of the state broadcaster’s CCTV 5 sports channel.
Instead of looking at the fans, the Chinese spectators watched the reactions of South Korean coach Paulo Bento and Ghana coach Otto Addo.
And when the game ended, footage of crying South Korean fans with their hands covering their heads was noticeably absent from the Chinese broadcast.
anti-covid measures
The change is subtle, but very deliberate.
As anti-lockdown protests rock China, state television executives are careful not to air images of a world that is largely moving away from Covid-19 restrictions.
It is not uncommon for commentators at major tournaments to be given the opportunity to choose their own camera angles, and often some set a slight delay to allow image selection and editing before the public sees them.
The BBC realized that there was a delay of about 52 seconds between its own coverage of the match and CCTV 5.
In this case, it comes after images of stadium fans celebrating without masks in crowded stadiums sparked anger in China, where sudden lockdowns and restrictions remain common and controversial.
Comment Explosion
On Chinese social media, users drew attention to the differences and expressed disappointment that the whole world is treating the virus differently.
Open letter questioning China’s zero covid policy and asked if it was a country “on the same planet” as Qatarwent viral on the messaging app WeChat last week before it was censored.
“On one side of the world there is a carnival, that is, the World Cup, on the other, a ban on visiting public places for five days,” a Weibo user wrote.
even a newspaper Global Timessupported by the state, acknowledged that some fans “choose to watch games at home with their families” as restrictions remain in many Chinese cities.
And while it’s impossible to completely avoid wide-angle shots that show some fans without masks, close-ups of fans reveling in the action uncontrollably are also unlikely to return to China.
remember, that you may receive notifications from BBC News World. Download the new version of our app and activate them so you don’t miss out on our best content.
Source: La Opinion
Ben Stock is an accomplished sports journalist. He currently works at 24 news breaker, where he has a reputation for providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives on the latest sports news. He has a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the sports industry. With a passion for storytelling, Ben’s writing takes readers closer to the action and the people behind it.