On an overcast Sunday afternoon, Shi Song is leading the cheers for the home side before 35,000 fans at the Shenzhen sports stadium in Guangdong province, southern China. His face is war-painted red and green, the colours of his side, Shenzhen Pingan. A native of Jiangxi, an inland province, Shi came to the southern boomtown five years ago to work in an office job. But he soon found his passion for soccer was greater, and he now earns his living as a full-time organizer for the Shenzhen fan club. An hour before the game against visiting Sichuan Quanxing, the paramilitary People's Armed Police bring in two busloads of anti-riot soldiers.
Police quickly pull out a large awning to protect the players.
As play begins, police move about in large groups communicating by walkie-talkie. Within minutes, a fist-fight erupts in the lower stands as a group of Shenzhen supporters finds a Sichuan fan in its midst. Police move in quickly, and drag the hapless Sichuan fan from the stadium. Like most games, this one ends without major incident. Still, the tension in the stands is palpable as the teams battle to a scoreless draw.