Chinese footballers have been banned from having tattoos by authorities.
In yet another controversial move engineered by the Chinese Communist Party, players are "strictly prohibited" from getting new ink and existing tattoos must be covered with long sleeve shirts or bandages.
The ban has been enforced in an attempt to set a "good example for society".
In a statement, the General Administration of Sport of China (GAS), said: "National teams at all levels will strictly implement the relevant requirements of the management measures ... (and) fully demonstrate the positive spirit of Chinese football players and set a good example for society.
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"The national team and the U23 national team athletes are strictly prohibited from having new tattoos, and those who already have tattoos are advised to remove them themselves.
"If there are special circumstances agreed by the team, (players) must cover up the tattoos during training and matches."
Players with tattoos will not be picked for the under-20 national team and younger age groups, with "ideological and political education activities" also to be arranged for footballers.
One of the most high-profile players affected by the ban is 32-year-old Zhang Linpeng, one described as the best player in the Chinese Super League by Marcello Lippi.
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The Guangzhou Evergrande defender is heavily tattooed, particularly on his neck and arms, and was allegedly dropped for his body ink in 2019.
Normally first-choice, Linpeng was not involved in damaging defeats to Wales and the Czech Republic - with not many buying the suggestion that he was injured.
Last year, a women's university football match was postponed because of a ban on dyed hair from those involved in the fixture.
Featured Image Credit: Image: PATopics: Chinese Super League
