Red cards, selection policies and ACL halfway report card: The Chinese Football Podcast s3e16

After the goals last week, referees take centre-stage here – with the CSL seeing a record number of red cards and penalties but relatively little controversy, should we look back with satisfaction at VAR implementation and improved refereeing?

One of the more controversial cards was Paulinho’s early bath for a high foot in Evergrande’s surprising defeat to Renhe – the panel debate the decision and then get stuck into how badly the former champions’ self-imposed selection limits are hurting both them and the league.

We take in some listener questions on an out-of-sorts reigning champion and a resurgent Chongqing, tip our hats to Tianjin fan culture, and settle in for a group-by-group review of the AFC Champions League – with three games played all of the Chinese sides are decently placed in their groups. Who do the pundits think will make it, and will our pre-season ACL pessimism be proved unfounded?

Host Steve Crooks is joined by Chinese football experts Cameron Wilson in Shanghai and Brandon Chemers in Beijing for this week’s episode.

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