Taiwan Women’s Football Players Petition for Head Coach Removal

Eighteen players from the Taiwan women’s national football team have submitted a formal petition demanding the removal of the team’s head coach and a complete reorganization of the coaching staff. The players have directed their complaint to the Ministry of Sports and the football association, alleging that the coaching team has been incompetent.

The petition highlights significant dissatisfaction with the technical direction of the team. According to reports from GoGoal and ETtoday, the players claim that the training content provided by the coaching staff was insufficient, describing the drills and preparation as being on a U-level, referring to youth-level training rather than the standard required for a senior national team.

Beyond the technical failings, the athletes cited a lack of organizational stability. The players alleged that there was information chaos in the lead-up to the Women’s Asian Cup, suggesting that administrative and communicative failures within the coaching staff hindered the team’s preparation for the tournament.

Turmoil Amidst Asian Cup Controversy

This internal revolt follows a period of significant diplomatic and political tension for the team during their participation in the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia. While the players struggle with internal leadership, the team’s delegation faced external conflict regarding the island’s representation in international sport.

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On March 11, 2026, Chen Kuei-jen, a delegate for the women’s national team and former head coach of the Taiwan men’s national team from 2012 to 2016, was forcibly removed from Parramatta Stadium in Sydney. The incident occurred during a group stage match against India.

Security officials and police escorted Chen from the venue after he led a group of supporters in chants containing the word Taiwan. Specifically, social media footage showed Chen orchestrating fans in a chant of Taiwan: add oil!, a phrase used to encourage the team.

Reports indicate that stadium security approached Chen multiple times during the first half of the match. By the halftime break, officials allegedly informed him that he was only permitted to chant the team’s official diplomatic name, Chinese Taipei and that further political chants were prohibited.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry issued a statement on March 12, 2026, protesting the removal of the former coach to the tournament organizers. The ministry noted that Chen was simply cheering on the team when he was asked by police to leave the venue.

AFC Regulations and Diplomatic Pressure

The ejection of Chen Kuei-jen underscored the strict adherence to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) rules regarding the naming of the team. Security personnel at the stadium stated they were following direct instructions from the AFC.

The controversy intensified as the team prepared for a high-stakes quarter-final clash against China, which took place in Perth on March 15, 2026. The clash was framed by long-standing sensitivities over how Taiwan is represented in international competitions.

Taiwanese fans expressed frustration over the incident, claiming they were being singled out and treated unfairly. The incident was subsequently placed under review by the Asian Football Confederation.

The combination of these external diplomatic disputes and the internal collapse of trust between the players and the Thai national head coach has left the national team in a state of crisis. The 18 players who signed the petition are now awaiting a response from the football association and the Ministry of Sports regarding the demand for a new head coach and a restructured technical team.