China U20s pulled from German fourth division until next year | OneFootball

China’s U20 team’s participation in Germany’s Regionalliga Südwest has been postponed until after the winter break amid fears of supporter protests.

It had been agreed during the summer that the young Chinese squad would play a series of friendlies against 16 teams from Germany’s fourth tier as part of their preparations for the 2022 Olympics.

But after their first match against TSV Schott Mainz was delayed by 30 minutes when the home supporters unfurled a Tibetan flag last weekend, the German FA has announced that the series will be postponed until early 2018.

“To the regret of all parties involved, the project did not receive the expected broad approval,” read a statement released by the DFB on Friday.

“In fact, the project was used by a handful of viewers to send messages that were considered hurtful by the Chinese team, officials, the CFA’s support staff and Chinese supporters.”

China had been scheduled FSV Frankfurt this weekend but the DFB say they received “substantial tip-offs of a further escalation” and the match was subsequently cancelled.

DFB vice-president Ronny Zimmermann said: “We sincerely regret that we have to postpone the series, especially when you think about what those games would have meant for the sporting development of China’s U20s and also the development of the south-west division.

“But regardless, we think the postponement is necessary, because we now have created time to discuss the new situation in all calmness and honesty and find a solution in the best interest of sport.”