Former Taiwan men's national coach Chen Kuei-jen was removed from a Women's Asian Cup match at Western Sydney Stadium in Parramatta on Tuesday night after leading the crowd in chants containing the word "Taiwan". Chen, who represented Taiwan 11 times as a player in the 1990s and was head coach of the Taiwan men's national team from 2012 to 2016, was spotted leading a boisterous group of fans during the final group stage match against India.
Security approached Chen multiple times in the first half, asking him to sit down, which he initially did while continuing to chant. He was subsequently removed to the stadium concourse by security, with video captured by witnesses showing an officer telling Chen that he was not allowed to sing "political chants". "This is what I've been told," the officer said. "If you want to take it up with the AFC later, you can."
The incident has exposed tensions about equality at the tournament. Fans reported being asked to sit down by staff, as "standing to cheer" was not allowed. However, when supporters of India's team were standing, cheering and banging drums, the organisers did not restrict them in the same way.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged an official protest with the Asian Football Confederation on Thursday over the "unfair treatment" of Taiwanese soccer fans. In a statement, the ministry urged tournament organisers to "uphold human rights and the principles of fairness in the competition", adding it had sent a letter to the AFC protesting the "unfair treatment" of Taiwanese fans.
The broader context makes the tension harder to ignore. Taiwan competes under the name "Chinese Taipei" in international sports events, which has long been a source of frustration for many Taiwanese. It is part of a political compromise with China, which claims Taiwan is part of its territory, that allows the island to take part in major competitions without presenting itself as a sovereign nation.
Taiwan Women's Football Players Association Secretary-General Chiao Chia-hung reported that aside from the incident with Chen, many Taiwanese fans' placards were taken away before kickoff because they had Taiwanese players' names and photos on them. One supporter, Lala Kao, told reporters she felt "suppressed" by the restrictions. She said she had attempted to bring a sign with only the Chinese Taipei Football Association logo, players' numbers, their Chinese names, and the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee emblem, but stadium staff prohibited it without explanation.
This is not an isolated occurrence. Earlier this month, thousands of Taiwanese fans gathered outside the Tokyo Dome for the World Baseball Classic with banners reading "Team Taiwan" and chanted "Go Taiwan" without apparent restriction. Yet at other international sporting events, Taiwan-related imagery and speech face systematic constraints.
The incident arrives at a delicate moment. Taiwan finished second in Group C with a 2-1 record and will face China in Perth on Saturday in the quarterfinals. The geopolitical weight of that matchup is substantial. The question now is whether the AFC will clarify its enforcement of rules governing fan expression, or whether the silence will suggest that some teams' supporters enjoy greater freedom than others.
The AFC did not respond to requests for comment.