Taiwan’s cheering line in China quarterfinals at Asian Cup | Football news

Taiwan will face China in a tense quarterfinal of the Women’s Asian Cup, where political tensions are at the fore.

Taiwan and China face off in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Asian Cup on Saturday, where geopolitical tensions have made their way to the terraces and sparked complaints from Taiwanese fans about their right to cheer on their team.

Former Taiwan men’s coach Chen Kui-jen was kicked out by security staff working for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) at Western Sydney Stadium on Tuesday after the women’s team’s 3-1 win over India.

Taiwanese fans accused Chen of being booted out for chanting for “Taiwan” rather than “Chinese Taipei,” the designation used for Taiwanese teams at international games.

Taiwan has long contested being “Chinese Taipei” to appease China, which claims the democratically-ruled island as its own. Taiwan’s government rejects China’s sovereignty claims.

Chen’s ouster prompted Taipei’s Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney to lodge a protest with the AFC.

Fans alleged that flags and pro-Taiwan banners were confiscated in the stadium.

The AFC, which hosts the quadrennial Asian Cup, said it was investigating the Chen incident and declined to comment.

World number 40 Taiwan will be underdogs against defending champions China when they meet at the Perth Rectangular Stadium.

All the semi-finalists will qualify directly for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The four losing quarterfinalists will battle it out for two more playoff spots on the Gold Coast next week.

China’s arch-rivals North Korea will be under the microscope when they take on Australia in Perth in Friday’s first quarterfinal.

The North Koreans refused to see out the first half as they lost 2-1 in Sydney on Monday, with Wang Shuang scoring for China in extra time.

The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but a VAR review overturned the decision, angering North Korea.

His team coach Ri Sang Ho was given a yellow card for sideline protests.

“If such a situation happens again in tomorrow’s match, we will follow and respect the decision of the referee, the match official,” Ri said through an interpreter on Thursday.

Favorites and two-time champions Japan head into the quarterfinals against the Philippines, ranked 41st in the world, having scored 17 goals without reply in their group matches against Taiwan, India and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the Philippines lost its first two matches but sneaked into the last eight as one of the two best third-placed teams after a 2-0 win over Iran.

“I know the girls have done so much, and they deserve this opportunity again to go to another World Cup,” said Australian coach Mark Torcaso of the Philippines.

Unbeaten South Korea should prove too strong for world number 49 Uzbekistan in Saturday’s other quarterfinal at the Stadium in Sydney, Australia.

Uzbekistan reached the knockout stage for the first time with a 4-0 win over Bangladesh after conceding six goals each to China and North Korea.