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China’s most successful Astroturf operation: grassroots football

On a cool autumn night, a man dressed as Guan Yu, a legendary general from 1,800 years ago, mounted his black steed and charged around a stadium. From the stands 26,000 fans erupted in cheers—and then thunderous chants for their football team: „Yiyang must win!” Nearly two hours later Yiyang had lost, 1-0, to their stronger opponents from Changsha, the capital of Hunan province. Yiyang’s players, their bright orange jerseys muddy and socks torn from the hard-fought match, could not hold back tears.