Calacus Weekly Hit & Miss – WTA & Leeds United
Every week we look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the previous week.
HIT - WTA
Tennis star Peng Shuai may not be the most famous player on the women’s tennis circuit, but she has enjoyed success, winning the doubles championship at Wimbledon in 2013 and again at the French Open in 2014 with her partner, Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan.
But her profile has grown immeasurably after she accused a former vice premier of China of sexual assault, which was rightly considered to be a brave and courageous move that showed once again the challenges women in sport face, while also embarrassing the Chinese Communist Party.
Peng made the accusation in a now-deleted post on her verified Weibo account, discussing an extra-marital affair and an assault by Zhang Gaoli, who served for five years on the party’s Politburo Standing Committee, the top ruling body in China.
Despite the post being removed within minutes, the allegations spread quickly before China’s internet controllers blocked searches of her name and even the word ‘tennis.’
Concerns soon emerged as Peng disappeared from public life, with tennis stars including Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams tweeting in solidarity with the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai.
Chinese state media tweeted a screenshot showing an email purportedly sent by the 35-year-old Peng to Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) CEO Steve Simon, saying she was not missing and “everything is fine.”
Simon responded: “I have a hard time believing that Peng Shuai actually wrote the email we received or believes what is being attributed to her. I have repeatedly tried to reach her via numerous forms of communications, to no avail.”
A video then appeared showing Peng attending an event in Beijing and during a call with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, she said she was "safe and well."
The IOC have more reason than most to want the situation to be resolved positively, given that the eyes of the world will be on China at the Winter Olympic Games taking place in early 2022 in Beijing.
Credit must go to the WTA for taking a stand, despite signing a hugely lucrative deal to stage events in China worth a reported US$1 billion deal over 10 years, leading to a number of tournaments being held in the country.
Yet with no progress over Peng’s whereabouts, they announced the immediate suspension of all tournaments in China despite the potential financial ramifications.
In a statement on the official WTA website, Simon said: "As Peng said in her post, ‘Even if it is like an egg hitting a rock, or if I am like a moth drawn to the flame, inviting self-destruction, I will tell the truth about you.’ She knew the dangers she would face, yet she went public anyway. I admire her strength and courage.
“Since then, Peng’s message has been removed from the internet and discussion of this serious issue has been censored in China. Chinese officials have been provided the opportunity to cease this censorship, verifiably prove that Peng is free and able to speak without interference or intimidation, and investigate the allegation of sexual assault in a full, fair and transparent manner.
“While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe and not subject to censorship, coercion and intimidation. The WTA has been clear on what is needed here, and we repeat our call for a full and transparent investigation – without censorship – into Peng Shuai’s sexual assault accusation.
“None of this is acceptable nor can it become acceptable. If powerful people can suppress the voices of women and sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug, then the basis on which the WTA was founded – equality for women – would suffer an immense setback. I will not and cannot let that happen to the WTA and its players.
“As a result, and with the full support of the WTA Board of Directors, I am announcing the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong.
“In good conscience, I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault. Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022.
“China’s leaders have left the WTA with no choice. I remain hopeful that our pleas will be heard and the Chinese authorities will take steps to legitimately address this issue.”
Late last week, the IOC made another statement confirming that they remain in contact with Peng.
It said: “We share the same concern as many other people and organisations about the well-being and safety of Peng Shuai. This is why, just yesterday, an IOC team held another video call with her. We have offered her wide-ranging support, will stay in regular touch with her, and have already agreed on a personal meeting in January.
“There are different ways to achieve her well-being and safety. We have taken a very human and person-centred approach to her situation. Since she is a three-time Olympian, the IOC is addressing these concerns directly with Chinese sports organisations.
“We are using “quiet diplomacy” which, given the circumstances and based on the experience of governments and other organisations, is indicated to be the most promising way to proceed effectively in such humanitarian matters.”
The ATP was later criticised for failing to follow the WTA’s lead. It posted its own statement from Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi which said: "The situation involving Peng Shuai continues to raise serious concerns within and beyond our sport. The response to those concerns has so far fallen short. We again urge for a line of open direct communication between the player and the WTA in order to establish a clearer picture of her situation.
“We know that sport can have a positive influence on society and generally believe that having a global presence gives us the best chance of creating opportunity and making an impact.
“We will continue to consult with our members and monitor any developments as this issue evolves."
It later said that it will not follow the WTA because it "does not want to punish a billion people.”
China’s response sought to elevate the situation even further, with Hu Xijin, editor of the Communist Party mouthpiece the Global Times, declaring that the WTA “acted as a lever of Western public opinion against China’s political system.
“Such coercion has deprived Peng of freedom of expression...fabricating that she has lost her freedom,” while also sharing that the Chinese Tennis Association “expresses its indignation and firm opposition” to the WTA’s decision.
We haven’t heard the end of this story - that much is certain - but the WTA's boycott is one of the strongest examples of leadership in sports governance for some time.
Steve Simon and his team have put people above profits and practised what they preach by supporting an athlete whose wellbeing is uncertain, shining a light on sexual impropriety and the importance of sport taking a moral stance in a world where it is often lacking.
MISS – LEEDS UNITED
Football and Maoism are two words that you would not usually expect to hear in the same sentence.
Yet this is what happened this week when Leeds United Managing Director, Angus Kinnear, compared recommendations made by a fan-led review of English football, to the punishing regime that led to the Great Chinese Famine.
The review issued 47 proposals to improve the sport’s governance, attracting a polarising response from senior Premier League figures, including Aston Villa Chief Executive Christian Purslow and Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish.
Kinnear issued his support for several of the review's recommendations, such as increased supporter consultation and renewed focus for the women's game and improving equality and diversity.
However, the Leeds chief found fault with calls for an independent regulator in English football and a transfer levy on Premier League clubs, calling them "as flawed as they are radical”.
In his programme notes ahead of last week’s clash against Crystal Palace, he said: "Enforcing upon football a philosophy akin to Maoist collective agriculturalism - which students of 'The Great Leap Forward' will know culminated in the greatest famine in history - will not make the English game fairer, it will kill the competition which is its very lifeblood."
The Great Leap Forward was an economic and social campaign led by the Chinese Communist Party, headed by Mao Zedong, from 1958 to 1962. The campaign led to the largest famine in human history and the deaths of millions of people, with estimates ranging between 15 and 55 million.
Kinnear added: "Redistribution of wealth will simply favour the lowest common denominator. Clubs who excel in recruitment, player development or commercial enterprise will be punished, while less capable ownership will be rewarded for incompetence."
Key among the recommendations from the fan-led review is a move to establish an independent regulator for the English game, a move the government has already "endorsed in principle."
Gary Neville has been an advocate for the creation of an independent regulator since the European Super League crisis unfolded in April.
On Kinnear’s comments, the former Manchester United and England defender said: “Anyone remember when Leeds United were in the Championship sweating like crazy over their own financial state if they didn’t go up. How has it come to this within 12 months? A sorry state of affairs. Surely even Leeds fans don’t like these programme notes on the Fan Led Review.”
In response, former sports minister Tracey Crouch, who led the review, called Kinnear's comparison a “tad extreme,” while the Football Supporters' Association (FSA) said it was a "dreadful take" on the issue.
Crouch told the BBC: “My report merely wishes to see more money going to grassroots, ensure that football clubs don't go bust, put diversity on the agenda and give fans a say on key issues. Maoism killed millions and millions of people."
The FSA tweeted: "Been a lot of dross from Premier League club executives over the last couple of days trying their best to undermine the fan-led review but Kinnear has somehow lowered the bar even further."
Regardless of your political views, it’s fair to say that Mao Zedong’s regime in China isn’t really comparable to the fan-led review’s efforts to bring the game together by unifying clubs and supporters against those acting in self-interest and greed.
Unfortunately, Kinnear’s controversial comments weren’t the end of Leeds’ poor week under the spotlight, which was further compounded by homophobic chants aimed at Chelsea loanee, Conor Gallagher, during their fixture against Crystal Palace.
The chants coincided with LGBT+ charity Stonewall’s 'Rainbow Laces' campaign.
LGBT+ Leeds supporters group, Marching Out Together, quickly moved to condemn the chants. They said: "Last night was our Rainbow Laces game. The club have actively supported the campaign again this year.
"The work we do with the club receives the support from the overwhelming majority of Leeds fans, who welcome inclusion and support for the LGBT+ community.
"However, work still needs to be done, and unacceptable chanting can still occasionally be heard. The rent boy chant last night is one example of that.
"It is unarguably homophobic and unacceptable at all times. We wrote a piece condemning the use of the rent boy chant and explaining why it is homophobic last year.
"It was certainly regrettable to hear last night - but the club's ongoing powerful message of support for equality resonated much stronger on a night where we could celebrate that things are changing for the better in the game of football, when it comes to LGBT+ inclusion."
When Leeds grabbed an injury-time equaliser against Brentford, Director of Football Victor Orta aggressively remonstrated with a section of the support, conduct unbecoming of someone in the Directors’ Box.
It’s certainly not been a great week for the club, and they’ll hope for an end to these controversies so that they can focus on improving their Premier League form rather than being distracted by off-field dramas.