Can they represent the nation? Nationalism, national identity, and naturalized athletes in Chinese football

ABSTRACT The main focus of this paper is on nationalism and national identity through a discussion of naturalized athletes in Chinese football. Thematic analysis was used to examine social media users’ comments and posts about Chinese football naturalization. It demonstrates that people’s attitudes and their understanding of what it means to be Chinese are divided. Specifically, football and national identity both reflect inclusion and exclusion in relation to these naturalized athletes in the construction of their controversial identity as new Chinese nationals depending on whether this is understood in an ethnic, cultural, or civic way.