Fan Zhiyi, Sun Jihai and ‘when 300 million Chinese watched Crystal Palace’
- First China internationals to play in England were signed by Terry Venables in summer of 1998
- ‘General Fan’ would go on to become first Chinese player in Scotland while both would take their country to only Fifa World Cup in 2002
History was made on October 17, 1998 with Chinese footballers Fan Zhiyi and Sun Jihai at Crystal Palace as the pair both started an English Football League game for the first time.
It would arguably prove a turning point in the popularity of English football in China and the beginning of the reported viewing figures that have driven clubs to expand into China over the years since.
Crystal Palace taking on Norwich City at Selhurst Park in the English second tier saw 18,100 inside the ground but was said to be watched by 300 million people in China.
That is what the match programme predicted but no matter how many really tuned in, they were amply rewarded with a win for the Chinese pair on Sun’s league debut.
Norwich had opened the scoring through Iwan Roberts before the Eagles ran riot. Goals from Nicky Rizzo, Mathias Svensson, Attillio Lombardo and a Matt Jansen brace saw them romp to a 5-1 win.
Roberts remembers the game at Selhurst Park for a very different reason. “We were battered there 5-1 on October 17, 1998 and after the game Bryan Hamilton gave us the biggest rollicking ever – dressed in just his shoes and socks. Mind you, I‘d done my job that day as I did get our consolation goal!” the former Norwich City striker told The Pink Un website in 2019.