Challenges and complexities of imagining nationhood: the case of Hong Kong’s naturalized footballers

Abstract

In the field of sports and nationalism, little has been done to explore the process of how a member from another nation become representatives of another imagined community. In view of the growing significance of naturalization of foreign sporting talents in international sports, this paper highlights the complexities of the imagining a ‘deep, horizontal comradeship’ through the case of Hong Kong’s naturalized football representatives, with a focus on the negotiation of ‘Hong Kongness’ and ‘Chineseness’ among fans and naturalized representatives regarding selected contents in the stadium. It is argued that fans and naturalized players are constantly reminded of an inclusive Hong Kongness and an exclusive Chineseness that facilitated the acceptance of naturalized footballers as representatives of Hong Kong’s imagined community. But at the same time, paradoxes are identified in the imagination of a ‘deep, horizontal comradeship’ between Hong Kong citizens and the naturalized footballers.

Keywords:

• Football
• nationalism
• imagined community
• naturalization
• Hong Kong

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 All home games of Team Hong Kong in the Group Stage were sold out as fans were motivated to support Hong Kong. In view of the political tension after the Umbrella Movement, extra police officers were deployed to separate home fans and away fans from mainland China in Hong Kong’s home game against China.

2 The booing of the March of Volunteers occurred the world cup qualifying match against Qatar in 2015 soon led to disciplinary actions from FIFA, but this has not stopped the fans from booing the national anthem, as the same deviant behaviour has been continued since then until the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020. But it is expected that the booing will be stopped by the recent introduction of the National Anthem Law in Hong Kong.

3 In August 2019, the CFA made a historical announcement of the naturalization of Brazil-born striker Elkeson as the first player of non-Chinese heritage to represent PRC for the World Cup qualifying. Elkeson’s naturalization is crucial as he fulfilled the five-year residency requirement by FIFA as he first joined the CSL club Guangzhou Evergrande in 2013. It is reported that all naturalized players (including those with Chinese heritage) are monitored and educated by their correspondent clubs in CSL regarding the knowledge of Chinese history, culture and knowledge of the Communist regime, so that they could develop patriotic feelings towards China.