"Playing in a trash league means becoming trash."
According to China's Zhibo.com, on the 25th (Korean time), Pan Xiaodong, a commentator from the Chinese national football team, said, "The reason Chinese youth players cannot perform well is that they play in the Chinese football league." He added, "Promising young talents are destroying themselves by playing in trash soil. The environment ruins the players."
The Chinese U20 national football team was eliminated after losing 0-1 to Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U20 Asian Cup, held on the 22nd at the Youth Football Training Base Center Stadium in Shenzhen, China. Chinese football has developed compared to the past. The U20 national team's performance was even better than the senior national team. China maintained 59% possession and pressed Saudi Arabia, but cried over a lack of finishing.
China dramatically missed a penalty kick gained in the 13th minute of the second half, losing the chance to win. China collapsed after conceding a last-minute goal to Saudi Arabia's Amar Al-Yuhaybi.
According to Chinese media, high-ranking officials from the Chinese Football Association expressed their anger publicly after the match. Currently, the U20 national team players are those who have been systematically nurtured since their youth under the direction of President Xi Jinping to qualify for the World Cup.
Sohu.com reported, "As China was eliminated at home, Song Kai, chairman of the Chinese Football Association, expressed great anger. The executives of the Football Association who were on-site were furious. This national team not only fought at home but also received top-level logistical support. The youth team was evaluated as the strongest in history. They naturally gathered expectations to qualify for the World Cup."
Especially, Liu Chengyu, who missed the penalty kick, is receiving intense criticism. The media stated, "Liu Chengyu failed multiple attacks and even missed the penalty. He should be removed. His national team career is over."
It is said that a 'blood purge' will begin for the various national teams due to this elimination. Sohu.com noted, "Dejan Zlatarević, the head coach who did not replace Liu Chengyu in a timely manner, is also a target of criticism. Relevant individuals must be punished. The World Cup qualifiers for the senior national team are now starting. If there is failure in the World Cup qualifiers, all fans will fall into despair."
Pan Xiaodong, who played 8 matches for the Chinese national football team in the past, said, "Youth players must not play in Chinese football for two years. I am heartbroken to see those promising players ruin themselves by playing in the Chinese league," adding, "In the Chinese football league, they learn to fall down on their own after the 30th minute of the second half, which is known as 'bed football.'"
Pan Xiaodong stated, "In the domestic league, a foul is called if there is any contact. Honestly, with such decisions in the league, how can any player play football properly?" He also noted, "Even if I play properly, the opposing player performs Hollywood actions. Players become completely drenched in such an environment."
He continued, "Why do people think Chinese football always collapses in international matches in the second half? It is because they mimic the behaviors from the league in international matches, leading to self-destruction. In international matches, acting like they do in the Chinese football league incurs immediate penalties. Basically, the poor growing environment is what ruins them."