soccer

China gets World Cup boost as nine foreigners switch nationality

13 Comments
By Johannes EISELE

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13 Comments
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Shady move but not surprising for China! But it no different than the other Western countries like France that exploit people of color when it is convenient!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Well if you cant copy it, steal it through espionage then just buy it. Whatever it takes.....

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Japan does this with rugby and no one gets their pants in a twist.

America does it with lots of sports.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@simon g

> America does it with lots of sports.

That is not true at all! American athletes are American-born citizens or received citizen very early in life in the US regardless of race. Foreigners who compete and live in the US almost always represent their home country for World competitions.

Please name one athlete that the US gave citizenship to for the purpose of allowing them to compete for the US in World Competition!

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_eligibility_transfers_in_athletics

Wikipedia list 35 recent track and field athletes who have changed their citizenship to the US. All nations do it, even the US.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

your opinion does not change the fact that the US grants citizenship to talented sports people quicker than they do to other immigrants. Monica Seles

you heard of her? you asked for one but there are hundreds.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@silvafan

you are very either very naive or blind to the truth.

Freddy Adu is a recent high profile soccer international, born in Ghana.

here’s a list of 100 more :

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_men%27s_international_soccer_players_born_outside_the_USA

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@tooheynew

Freddy Adu is a recent high profile soccer international, born in Ghana.

here’s a list of 100 more :

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_men%27s_international_soccer_players_born_outside_the_USA

The US is a country of immigrants! So, showing a list US citizens or athletes born outside of the country is irrelevant.

China is not the same as the US!

China bribed these players specifically for the event especially since getting citizenship is not that easy to get in China. Most high level athletes or people with potential are not fighting tooth and nail to move to China and play on a professional team.

To all posters, the difference is these athletes intend to move to the US because money, fame, and a better life could possibly follow playing for some best organizations in the world. The US doesn't need to bribe athletes with citizenship to play for their teams. These people want to live in the US regardless of their success in sports. The US has a large enough pool of domestic talent to cover most sports. The sports that don't have enough typically are not popular in the US anyway.

They don't need to have citizenship to be rich and famous and play for US professional teams. Just like Mr. Hachimura along with the other Japanese baseball players that are still Japanese citizens. You only need to be a citizen for Olympics and similar events. US foreign athletes choose to change their citizenship because they like living in the US, have no intention of returning to their home countries to live, and grateful for the opportunities.

The path to US citizenship is sometimes long, but the path is clear and obtainable for most.

Just like Ms. Osaka and other famous tennis players or just like all the Australian and British actors that become US citizens. The US doesn't need to bribe people like China the US attracts people with talent who want to become citizens without needing to do much.

@simon g

your opinion does not change the fact that the US grants citizenship to talented sports people quicker than they do to other immigrants. Monica Seles

Your logic is failing you! Speeding up the process is not the same as giving citizenship to a whole team to simply represent their country in an international event.

Did Monica Seles represent the US in the Olympics or any other event like this? Irrelevant example!

The only person to truly earn Chinese citizenship was Stephon Marbury after his successful career in China not before!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

China and the US are like Apples vs Oranges. This is definitely not the same situation

Most professional athletes that play US dominated sports tend to go to places like China, South America, Australia, Canada and Europe at the end of their careers or when they couldn't make it in the US sports organizations. They are usually considered to be B,C,D.......leagues. They may have some good players, but the overall competition is below the US. Other than a few examples, many fields tend to be bigger and more lucrative in the US. It doesn't matter if it is entertainment, athletics, academics or etc.. The US doesn't need to beg or bribe people. The US attracts people because of its popularity, and fame.

Yeah, I also don't know a lot of people dying to become a citizen of communist China! This is more of staged political stunt on the part of the Chinese government. Besides, it isn't like China hasn't pulled off these kinds of stunts before in other areas.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

China is a multicultural country, dontcha know...?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Silvafan

Did Monica Seles represent the US in the Olympics or any other event like this? Irrelevant example!

She won a bronze for USA. Calm down, you're doing a John McEnroe in a computer based discussion.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What is China’s overall goal here, to have the best team homegrown through sweat, pain and hardship and constant training or do they want a team that just looks good visually that’s made up of the best foreign players?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The latter. But with success comes more participation. so long term I guess the former. Think of it as a "booster start" .

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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