The Qatar World Cup is approaching, and the Club World Cup has become the focus of fans' attention.
However, a recent Club World Cup event to promote the Japanese team has angered Chinese netizens. The International Football Federation (FIFA) used the flag of the rising sun, a symbol of Japanese militarism, on its promotional pages, a move that sparked widespread controversy.
Many Chinese netizens angrily accused FIFA of becoming a new stage for the conjuring of the Japanese Invaders.
In this case, FIFA chose to hang the Rising Sun Flag, a symbol of aggression against China, when promoting the Japanese team at the Club World Cup.
This flag became a symbol of Japanese militarism during World War II and has a strong history of aggression.
Chinese netizens expressed great dissatisfaction with this behavior, believing that FIFA's approach is a disrespect to the history of aggression and a harm to Chinese fans.
At the Qatar World Cup, Japanese fans once openly displayed the Rising Sun Flag and the kamikaze logo, which aroused widespread concern and controversy in the international community.
This time, FIFA once again chose to link the Rising Sun Flag with the promotion of the Japanese team, which undoubtedly caused great dissatisfaction among Chinese fans.
Chinese fans have asked FIFA to be vigilant against Japan's militarist behavior, stressing that historical issues should be treated with due respect.
FIFA has removed the promotional signs in the face of strong dissatisfaction from Chinese fans.
The move also shows FIFA's response after being pressured by public opinion. However, for Chinese fans, this does not completely heal the emotional damage caused by historical issues.
They believe that FIFA's removal is only a superficial remedy, and that true respect for historical issues requires more in-depth thinking and action.
The incident has also sparked a wide discussion about the relationship between football and politics and history.
As an international sport, football is inevitably affected by various political and historical factors. In addition to cheering for the team they support, fans will also integrate their own national and historical concepts into their love for football.
And FIFA's choice to use the controversial flag when promoting the Japanese team this time has undoubtedly touched the sensitive nerves of fans and triggered deeper reflection.
In the relationship between football and politics and history, FIFA, as the organization that leads global football, should be more careful in dealing with symbols related to history.
Fans expect football to be a link between nations and peoples, not a platform for inciting politically sensitive issues.
Only by respecting history and cultural differences can football better serve the development of global sports.
Overall, FIFA's move to use the Rising Sun Flag in promoting the Japanese team at the Club World Cup has sparked great controversy.
Chinese fans have expressed strong dissatisfaction with this and demanded that the football community be more cautious in dealing with historical issues.
This event also calls on the international football community to think deeply about the relationship between football, politics and history, and strive to make football a more pure and globally connected sport.