NATURALIZATION IN CHINESE FOOTBALL: LEGAL ISSUES, NATIONALISM, AND IDENTITY

Abstract

: The nationality conversion of athletes is no longer a novelty in international sports, however, the case of footballers’ naturalization in China has received little academic attention. The introduction of overseas talents was endorsed by national policy, with the purpose of strengthening the Chinese national team aiming to reach the World Cup. This article examines some legal concepts in Chinese footballers' naturalization and discusses this phenomenon from a sociological perspective. The purpose is to employ the football athletes’ nationality swapping as a case to discuss the status quo of this sport in China