In the late afternoon of June 25th, Nantong Haimen Ketan Edge defeated Shenzhen 6-5 in a thrilling penalty shootout, marking the successful conclusion of the third round of the 2023 FA Cup. This year's Top 16, with the exception of two B-teams and one A-team, all belonged to the Chinese Super League camp. Compared to previous editions, there were few exciting stories on the field, not to mention amazing moments, a phenomenon that seemed to be unexpected. In fact, the tone was set by the CFA. Starting with the second-round draw results on September 5, 2022 at noon, to be exact. Looking back at previous FA Cups, apart from the "shameful match" between Guoan and Jingchuan Wenhui, many teams chose to forfeit their matches or play with full Chinese teams. This makes the FA Cup a "chicken ribs" tournament, most of the teams just deal with it. The reason for this is, on the one hand, the strategy adopted by the Chinese Super League teams due to the lack of funds or for the relegation of the league; on the other hand, it is the tone set by the Football Association. The core of the tone lies in the results of the draw: the top four teams in the league, Wuhan Sanzhen, Shandong Taishan, Songshan Longmen, and Shanghai Shenhua, were all placed in the first half of the draw; while the second half of the draw consisted of mostly mid-to-lower-tier teams in the league, including the two promoted teams. There was a public outcry when the draw was announced, apparently paving the way for Harbor to win the title. As a result, various "stories" emerged. Seaport was eliminated by Zhejiang in the semifinals, but the title was eventually won by Taishan. However, the phenomenon itself is surprising. As early as the second round and the draw for the round of 32, the Chinese Super League teams were exposed as deliberately trampling on the principle of fairness and impartiality. Chen Xuyuan is seen as the leader of these "smart people". In fact, the league's divisions, schedule adjustments, and even the refereeing arrangements all revealed the intent of Chen Xuyuan and others to "recommend" the seaport. This year, the rules of the tournament underwent a major change. In the first round, 16 teams from the Chinese B League and 16 amateur teams participated in the tournament, with the winners advancing to the second round; subsequently, 16 teams played a single elimination match against 16 teams from the Chinese A League, with the winners advancing to the third round. It was not until this point that the 16 Super League teams were officially unveiled. The seeding for this year's round of 16 draw was referred to as the four teams "participating in the AFC Champions League", which is different from last year's list based on the results of the 21st season of the FA Cup and the Chinese Super League, but essentially the same. The draw was not controversial and was fair, at least in terms of the first stage of the league standings. The details are as follows: the first half of the seaport - Jinmen Tigers, Dalian people - Henan team, Qingdao West Coast - Guoan, Meizhou Hakka - Taishan; the second half: Nantong Zhiyun Wuhan three towns, Changchun Yatai Qingdao Hainiu, Chongqing Tongliang Long Nantong Haimen can connect the edge of the Zhejiang team Shenhua. Although Guoan beat Zibo Qisheng 1-0 this round to avoid repeating last year's shame, while Chengdu Rongcheng, currently third in the league rankings, was slightly more volatile. However, the rules of sportsmanship and fair play at the FA level were not openly discussed in the media throughout the round. It can be said that this year's FA Cup has at least so far returned to the "right track". According to the draw, Harbor, Taishan, Shenhua and Wuhan will meet in the finals of their respective halves. If there are no major changes in foreign aid during the summer window, it's a fair guess that this year's FA Cup will be won by the Shanghai duo. Even if Harbor wins the cup, I'm sure there won't be much discussion about it, even if it's due to the power of "anticipation". The "storyless" FA Cup of 2023 is full of "stories". The ongoing anti-corruption campaign in soccer, in addition to removing the moths and cancers in Chinese soccer, has also sorted out the relevant rules. The league and the FA Cup are gradually returning to normal. What seems to be sparse, mundane and taken for granted is a rare stream of clarity. Although I dare not expect that there will be no more twists and turns in the future, as long as all practitioners work together, Chinese soccer can continue to overcome difficulties and move towards glory.
