From Suzhou to Sharjah —— The President of Football Association tells the thrilling story behind the relocation of the top 40 national football matches.

On the evening of May 30th, when China was 2-0 ahead of Guam in Suzhou Olympic Sports Center, the team of China Football Association received a disturbing news: there was a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Maldives and the team could not come to Suzhou Division. This sudden change upset all the arrangements in China. Later, the Syrian team also decided not to come to China, and the match was forced to be held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. China's preparations are "subversive", and some players' emotions fluctuate. After the motorcade arrived at Sharjah Hotel, COVID-19 was found in the hotel. ...

The following is an interview record:

Chen Xiaoyuan answered (hereinafter referred to as "A"): The situation was particularly chaotic at that time. On May 30th, in the half game between China and Guam, we learned that two Maldivian players were infected with COVID-19, and the whole team became close contacts. According to the relevant regulations of FIFA, close contacts can come in to participate in the competition as long as they are not positive for nucleic acid test. However, according to China's epidemic prevention requirements, close contacts must be isolated. If the Maldivian team is isolated and can't come to China, the game will become a big problem.

After receiving the news, China Football Association urgently communicated with AFC and Maldivian to explain China's epidemic prevention requirements, hoping that they would understand. At that time, we hoped that the Syrian and Philippine teams would come to China as usual to make special arrangements for the match between China and Maldives. However, on No.31,some people in the Syrian team found that the serum index was too high and they could not enter the country according to the requirements of epidemic prevention in China. The problem has become serious, and we are faced with the problem of how to continue to hold the competition.

On the evening of 3 1, Du, deputy director of the State Sports General Administration, held an emergency meeting with the core personnel of our team. Various schemes and possibilities were discussed at the meeting. We also made urgent communication with relevant departments, but found it difficult. Finally, the AFC said that if you can't hold the competition in Suzhou, move to the United Arab Emirates.

We have also communicated with FIFA and AFC to see if we can postpone the game, but their attitude is clear: the last game must be played in June 15, and there is no possibility of postponement. There is only one way before us, and that is to hold the game in another place. In this regard, FIFA, AFC and UAE Football Association have given us a lot of support.

The State Sports General Administration attaches great importance to this matter. On the morning of June 1 year, the General Administration decided to change the competition. This is indeed a painful decision, but it is a decision that has to be made because there is no better way. In fact, there was only one feasible plan at that time.

After we decided to transform, we immediately did three things. The first is team preparation. The national football team was originally prepared to play in Suzhou, but the result suddenly changed, and the whole preparation plan was forced to make major adjustments. Among them, the players and coaching staff are the most affected. We will discuss the situation with the coaching staff first and make it clear. Only by acquiring knowledge can we take this road. Either we give up the game or we switch to the United Arab Emirates. It's obviously impossible to give up the game, we must meet the difficulties. After we communicated with the coaching staff, the coaching staff held a meeting of all the players at noon, told all the players about this decision, and immediately made preparations for the next transition.

The second is competition organization. Although the competition has been transferred to Sharjah, the whole organization of the competition is still dominated by the China Football Association. Therefore, accommodation, transportation, epidemic prevention and competition organization for all five teams, including China team, as well as referees and other relevant personnel are arranged by us. Because the rights and interests of the competition are in the hands of China Football Association, we have set up six working groups, and made some integration on the basis of the original working group in Suzhou Division, so as to ensure that we can do a series of work such as competition organization, epidemic prevention arrangement, team reception, logistics support, signal production and broadcasting.

The third thing is the aftermath, because we have sold out the tickets and need to deal with a series of problems such as refund. We have established a team with Suzhou. Suzhou has devoted a lot of efforts and done a lot of work for this competition. Suzhou also cooperated with us to do a lot of work after the change of the competition.

There is also the most important question. The team will soon go to the United Arab Emirates, starting from Shanghai to Dubai. There are no domestic routes. What about the plane? How to implement the charter flight? It is a great challenge for us to finish all these tasks in less than two days! Fortunately, all departments are more supportive, and the Outreach Department of the State Sports General Administration helps us to fully coordinate. The Civil Aviation Administration was also very helpful, which quickly solved this problem, including applying for landing in the United Arab Emirates and flying over the country's airspace. All this was done in just two days, very difficult, very difficult.

At that time, the working team of our Football Association worked for almost two days and two nights. I am not the only one, but all the key members of our team, dealing with these things every day.

There is also the epidemic prevention situation in the United Arab Emirates, which must be clearly understood. To this end, we contacted the company of COSCO Group in Dubai and asked them to give us feedback on Sharjah. After we get the specific information, we will make a specific plan in China. At the time of departure, I had a basic judgment on the local situation, including hotel reservation, stadium, training ground and so on. We didn't contact the hotel, it must be the hotel of Team Five and AFC officials.

There were too many things to do in those two days, and now it's really thrilling to think about it.

From May 3rd1to June 3rd, we have less than 72 hours left. Although it was difficult, we finished it on schedule. I am very proud of the Football Association team, and we have really stood the test.

Q: The team left Suzhou for the United Arab Emirates and then returned to Suzhou. It took 35 1 hour, which was thrilling. How do you feel when you return to China after the successful conclusion of the competition?

A: 17 After the team returned home safely in the morning, it was still very gratifying and worthwhile. Although we have paid so much, we have successfully achieved our preset two goals: first, safety and epidemic prevention, and second, the qualification of the top 40 national team. These games are the best played by the national team in recent years, and we have completed the task of 12. Although I have experienced so many hardships in the early stage, I feel that everything is relieved and all the pressure is relieved when I see that the national team can achieve such achievements, including our work is relatively smooth. Because of this result, everyone is satisfied and happy, and it is not a problem for us to be tired and hard.

After we returned home, we were not complacent because of the achievements made in the top 40, and we didn't relax at all. /kloc-on the morning of 0/9, Du, deputy director of the State General Administration of Sport, and I and some members of the coaching staff of the team held a meeting to sum up the gains and losses of our top 40 competitions. The achievements are in the past, and now we have to look at the problems and see the bigger tasks to be faced next, so this summary meeting was held immediately to summarize the successful aspects and some shortcomings, and more importantly, many topics were put forward for the next 12 competition. We should seriously study these topics and hope to solve them in about half a month, so as to make more adequate preparations for the national football team's preparation for the 12 final. We require the national team to enter the preparation mode of 12 from 19, and the team training should not be relaxed just because they arrive at the isolation hotel.

Q: What was the main difficulty when the whole event was hastily transferred to the United Arab Emirates? How to overcome it?

A: I think there are two biggest difficulties. One is the preparation of the team. Because the original preparation was planned in detail, but because the competition was held in a different place, subversive changes took place. I think this is the biggest difficulty. To this end, we have done a lot of work. We have done the work of the players and the coaching team, and everyone has seriously put these problems out. In particular, the coaching team headed by Li Tie, including our team leader, has done a lot of meticulous work. The most important thing is to adjust the mentality of the players, so that everyone can face it calmly, thus stimulating the fighting spirit of each player.

The second challenge is the guarantee of the whole competition, that is, the competition organization and logistics support. We guarantee not only one team, but also four other teams, and all related matters must be carried out by us. This is a very big challenge. Why do we need 30 employees? These 30 people should make sure that all these jobs are solved. Give us less than 72 hours. After 72 hours, everyone should enter the state step by step. Therefore, we must complete these plans within 72 hours to ensure their feasibility.

Q: Can this experience be said to be a great baptism and encouragement for the team growth of China Football Association?

A: I totally agree with this statement. This is the precious wealth of China national team and our Football Association. We have experienced such a big mutation, and the team can still maintain a good mentality and show a better mental state. Everyone has been greatly tempered. It turns out that everyone is step by step, and then suddenly they want to change places. After this tempering, the national team's ability to resist pressure has improved, which in itself is a very important symbol of the team's progress.

The staff of our team work very hard in Sharjah. In addition to their own jobs, the China team has to be a cheerleader when there is a game to create a home atmosphere for the national team that is not at home.

Therefore, our success this time is the result of the concerted efforts of Qi Xin team and Qi Xin and the strong support from all walks of life.

For example, we suddenly have to transfer from Suzhou to Sharjah, and someone needs a passport temporarily, and the Suzhou municipal government immediately gives support. Suzhou municipal government has given us great help from beginning to end. In addition, the Shanghai municipal government has also given us great support in entry and exit, such as setting up special passages for us on the premise of meeting the entry and exit epidemic prevention regulations.

Moreover, the chairman of COSCO Group personally called the general manager of Dubai Company several times and asked them to fully cooperate with us. They sent a team of three local people to join us in the logistics support work, and sent a chef from China to prepare zongzi for us on the Dragon Boat Festival, which made us feel the warmth of home.

Q: Including the China national team, 92 members of the China Football Association went to the United Arab Emirates. How does the whole team ensure epidemic prevention safety?

A: We are determined to prevent and control the epidemic. Before going to the United Arab Emirates, we set two goals. One is to ensure the safety of epidemic prevention and ensure that everyone in our team is not infected. Secondly, we should ensure that China can enter the top 40. No matter how difficult it is, there are two goals!

With these two goals, I think everyone has shown a high degree of work enthusiasm. We feel that we have no way out. The last resistance, we must win this battle.

We got off the plane, went to Sharjah Hotel, and immediately did a nucleic acid test. At 12 that night, the results of nucleic acid test were reported, and it was found that three hotel staff were positive and two were suspected to be positive. We immediately held an emergency meeting and took a series of measures, including closing all the rooms of the team, and the hotel waiters could not come up. All hotel services are done by our own people. We have arranged a new chef, and all of them are not allowed to go out unless they work.

We have formulated strict epidemic prevention requirements, strict standards, strict discipline, strict implementation and strict verification. Make it clear that everyone is both the executor and the supervisor of epidemic prevention, and remind each other. From June 3rd to16th, we did five nucleic acid tests and three serum tests, and the results were all qualified.

Q: How do you handle the management and service of the national team?

A: I never interfere with the daily training and competition of the China team. But I have requirements for the team and the game.

After we arrived in Sharjah, Du, deputy director of the State Sports General Administration, and I held a team plenary meeting to explain to the players why the game had to be changed, so that everyone could understand that it was a last resort and everyone had to settle down. We use all our strength and the epidemic prevention requirements here to make this work clear, so that every team member can know our situation, what difficulties we face and how to overcome them. We are all doing these jobs.

We have also communicated with the head coach several times to hear what difficulties he has. We also ask the head coach to build confidence. We also communicated with individual players. These communications are not specific skills and tactics, but a state of mind and a requirement.

So how do players do it? I said to the team members, you can rest assured of the game, rest assured of the game, concentrate on the game, and we will do a good job in epidemic prevention together. Because no one knew what would happen in this game, we gave the players three reassurances at that time. The first is to believe that we can do a good job in epidemic prevention. As long as we follow the domestic requirements, we will ensure everyone's health. Second, we will do a good job in safety. Third, we must ensure that everyone can return to China smoothly. At that time, some people were worried about whether they could come back. All these worries are gone. Under pressure, the players feel that they should play the spirit of China team and play a good image of this national team. I think these are all very important things.

Q: It is reported that you made Li Tieduo smile and infected the team?

A: That's true. Because the head coach is under great pressure. We were told that some players' psychology fluctuated and their training was affected after they knew that the team was going to switch to UAE. In that case, mood swings are human nature. Players don't know what will happen next, and they may be more concerned about how to face those uncertain factors. This situation will affect the head coach team, and Li Tie will be under pressure. So when I was in Sharjah, I told Li Tie to put all the pressure down. I said I was nervous when I saw you these two days. You will laugh when you see me, but it makes me feel unnatural. I said you can laugh, give us pressure, and let's carry it together.

Q: After China beat the Syrian team to qualify for the top 40, your celebration in the dressing room was really infectious. Then what happened?

A: After all, I was really happy that day. I think everyone is happy for the victory, so I can't help it. I have had such an experience, and when I achieve such a perfect and smooth result, I think probably everyone will be like me.

Q: When you were in Shanghai (now Shanghai) club, you could say that you sacrificed the interests of the club and sent Lei Wu to play in Spain. Looking back at the decision, what do you think?

A: Looking back on the road Lei Wu has traveled in recent years, I feel more and more that Lei Wu's choice is correct, and so is mine. He should be encouraged to go out. If Lei Wu hadn't been out at that time, I think he might still be an excellent athlete now, but he can't reach today's height.

One Lei Wu is definitely not enough. We have started this plan and hope that more people from Wu Lei will go abroad. I hope that this year and early next year, not one or two people, but four or five people will go abroad like Lei Wu.

Q: Have you confirmed Li Tie's contract renewal?

A: Li Tie's contract renewal is an outside rumor. Last year, when our Football Association discussed it together, everyone said that we had an assessment of coaches every year. As long as the team is progressing on the right track, we should let the coaching staff play it slowly and steadily, and don't change the head coach after losing the battle. Therefore, there is no question of renewing Li Tie's contract. Now he is leading the team to prepare for the 12 competition.

Q: The Suzhou Tournament was forced to be held in a different place and went through all the hardships. How are we going to guarantee the home of the 12 final?

A: For the next preparation, we have established six topics, one of which involves how to arrange the home and away games. We hope not to give up the home court for our own reasons. The most important thing here is epidemic prevention. That depends on how our country's epidemic prevention policies are coordinated with those of FIFA and AFC. This is an uncertain factor.

Of course, we should be fully prepared, and it is best to do it at home; What shall we do if we can't do it? We have also identified other themes, such as that the China team must play several quality games in the preparation process. Because 12 is absolutely different from the top 40, there must be several high-quality competitions. This is very important for us to prepare for the 12 game.

Q: Last question, China's participation in the 12 competition during the epidemic will definitely have some impact on the Super League. How does the China Football Association weigh this?

A: There are basically two principles to follow regarding league arrangements. First, the league is a very important cornerstone of China football, and the league cannot be sacrificed because of the national team. Second, during the preparation and competition of the national team, the Super League will have to stop, and the league without national team players will lose great significance. How to develop the Super League in this special situation this year, we are studying three specific plans, and we should also seek the opinions of the Super League clubs, and finally form a plan generally accepted by the Super League.

Xinhua News Agency