A former Taiwan men’s national team coach was escorted out of Parramatta Stadium in Sydney during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on Tuesday night after encouraging supporters to chant the word “Taiwan” during the team’s match against India.
Chen Kuei-jen, a delegate with the Taiwan women’s national side and a former international who earned 11 caps in the 1990s, was seen rallying a small group of fans in the stands before being removed by police, according to reporting from The Guardian. The same report noted Chen previously served as head coach of the Taiwan men’s national team between 2012 and 2016.
The incident occurred amid the sensitive naming conventions surrounding Taiwan’s participation in international sport, where the team often competes under the “Chinese Taipei” designation. The chants, as described in the report, repeatedly referenced “Taiwan,” drawing the attention of stadium officials and resulting in Chen being asked to leave.
⚽ Key Insight
While the crowd group was described as small, it was also characterised as vocal. Witnesses cited in the same coverage said Chen had been actively encouraging fans to join in. In a tournament setting where crowd behaviour is closely monitored, officials can move quickly when language or signage is perceived to contravene competition rules or local event policies.
Neither tournament organisers nor local authorities immediately provided a detailed public explanation of the precise grounds for Chen’s removal in the aftermath of the match, beyond the account that police escorted him from the venue. However, the episode is likely to amplify scrutiny on how federations and organisers manage identity-related expression in the stands—particularly when delegations, rather than ordinary ticket-holders, are involved.
Key Takeaways
- Chen Kuei-jen was escorted out of Parramatta Stadium during Taiwan’s Women’s Asian Cup match against India.
- The removal followed chants led by Chen that included the word “Taiwan”, per The Guardian.
- Chen is a former Taiwan men’s head coach (2012–2016) and a former player with 11 international appearances, according to the same report.
- The incident highlights ongoing sensitivities around team naming and references to Taiwan in international competition settings.
Infographic: What we know
Where: Parramatta Stadium, Sydney
Event: AFC Women’s Asian Cup match (Taiwan vs India)
Who: Chen Kuei-jen (team delegate; former men’s head coach)
What happened: Led “Taiwan” chants; escorted out by police
Source: The Guardian
For Taiwan’s women’s team, the focus will quickly return to performances on the pitch. But off it, the moment serves as a reminder that international tournaments are often staged at the intersection of sport, protocol and politics—where a single word in the crowd can become the night’s dominant storyline.
