Statement of the Chinese Table Tennis Association on Resisting Extreme Fan Behavior
Recently, the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) has noticed that some extreme fans have continuously engaged in verbal abuse, rumor-mongering, and personal attacks against national team coaches and athletes. This behavior has spread from competition venues to the internet, and further from online platforms back to live venues.
Some athletes have experienced interference during matches due to these behaviors; some coaches have faced middle-finger gestures and verbal abuse from individual extreme fans on the sidelines; and several coaches and athletes have repeatedly received abusive text messages, harassing phone calls, and private messages on social media, which severely disrupt their normal training, matches, and daily lives. The association has assisted relevant athletes and coaches in reporting these matters to public security authorities to pursue legal accountability for those responsible.
The CTTA always prioritizes the physical and mental health as well as the long-term development of coaches and athletes, firmly safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests. Next, the association will promote the establishment of a venue ban list system and strengthen order maintenance at match venues. False information regarding team management, tournament arrangements, athlete selection, and coaching staff line-ups will be handled in accordance with laws and regulations in cooperation with relevant departments.
Every honor achieved by the Chinese Table Tennis Team is a result of the dedication and hard work of generations of athletes and coaches, and cannot be separated from the long-standing care and support of table tennis fans. Every cheer and every bit of attention inside and outside the venue form an integral part of table tennis culture. We are willing to work together with fans, media friends, event organizers, and all sectors of society to build a rational, civilized, and inclusive table tennis culture—where passion has warmth, expression has limits, and venues maintain order.
Chinese Table Tennis Association
October 7, 2026
