Chapter 717 - 642: The Fans are God

Chapter 717: Chapter 642: The Fans are God

"This goal?"

Chen Yu looked toward the stadium’s big screen.

The match had already entered stoppage time, and the score was tied 2-2.

"Dr. Chen, what’s wrong?"

Amidst the roar of the crowd, Tang Hemin still heard Chen Yu’s words and turned his head to ask.

Chen Yu didn’t say anything, his eyes fixed on the players on the field.

’Something about this score feels off,’

As for the match’s progression, Batty had scored first. Then, just before the end of the first half, Huanghe Tower succeeded on a counter-attack, tying the game 1-1.

In the second half, Batty orchestrated a play in the opponent’s half, and Pioneer’s midfielder Yu Dequan followed up with a toe poke to take the lead once again.

After that, Huanghe Tower launched several attacks but failed to score.

Just when Chen Yu thought Pioneer would secure the three points, Huanghe Tower put together a smooth play in their attacking half right before stoppage time and tied the game again.

That goal turned three points into one, a result Pioneer clearly found unacceptable.

But with almost no time left, scoring a last-minute winner was a near-impossible task.

They couldn’t rely entirely on Batty and Cannigia.

At their age, it was already a feat for them to play the entire match.

They definitely still had individual skill, but the midfield wasn’t strong enough to supply them with ammunition.

Therefore, this match would likely end in a draw.

But Chen Yu still felt that something was off.

Judging from the two goals Huanghe Tower scored, both in terms of teamwork and individual player skill, Chen Yu felt they were stronger than Pioneer.

After all, Pioneer’s main lineup was still composed of the original Sun Hei Group players. They were fine for playing in the second division, but there was a clear skill gap now that they were in the Chinese Super League.

Under these circumstances, the fact that Huanghe Tower hadn’t managed to decisively beat Pioneer was, in hindsight, truly baffling.

Chen Yu’s gaze locked onto the Huanghe Tower bench.

Their head coach, Pei Encai, was still standing on the sideline, arms crossed, with a blank expression. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

But looking at the flow of the game, Chen Yu couldn’t help but suspect there might be... other factors at play.

"It’s nothing, Director Tang. I just think it’s a bit of a shame. We could have taken all three points," Chen Yu explained with a smile.

Tang Hemin sighed. "Yes, it would have been great to get those three points."

Chen Yu went back to watching the game, but his brow furrowed slightly.

’This sort of thing isn’t about right or wrong; it’s just a reality. After so many years of development in professional sports, especially in a sport as commercialized worldwide as football, it’s unavoidable.’

’Just think about the 2002 World Cup!’

’Late last year, Chen Yu had even heard Johansson mention that Zheng Mengjun thought the heat was off and was making moves again, trying to get back into FIFA.’

’But he probably has no chance.’

’This stuff is inevitable, and Chen Yu wasn’t completely against it.’

’Last year, when chatting with Yuan Weimin and even higher-ranking leaders, Chen Yu had specifically discussed this issue with them.’

’It happens all over the world, after all.’

’In North America, for example, match-fixing is a persistent problem, and that’s essentially what this is.’

’At the time, Chen Yu’s stance was to support regulation.’

’It’s worth noting that the Sports Bureau was also pushing for regulation.’

’In ’01, it was Yuan Weimin himself who gave the green light, issuing the nation’s first football lottery ticket.’

’However, the Jia A League at the time was not included in the scope of the football lottery.’

’As far as Chen Yu knew, the Sports Bureau had been continuously pushing for this internally.’

’This was because regulated betting was actually beneficial to the development of professional sports.’

’In the Five Major Leagues, for example, sponsorships from betting companies are a very important source of income for major clubs, especially the smaller ones.’

’But those are legitimate, legal operations. They don’t profit from match-fixing; in fact, legitimate betting companies are resistant to it.’

’Because fixed matches are completely unpredictable.’

’Their actuaries rack their brains, analyzing all sorts of inside information about the teams, the recent form of players, lineup configurations, and even the weather on match day. They delve into the psychology of it all just to come up with a prediction.’

’Then you go and throw the match, and they’re left completely dumbfounded.’

’Moreover, as far as Chen Yu knew, even he himself was a person of major interest to them.’

’Because when certain players got injured, if they chose to receive treatment in their home country, it could affect the betting lines for many upcoming matches. But if they came to Chen Yu for treatment, they might make a sudden, early comeback, throwing off the predictions.’

’Chen Yu was sure that someone inside his own clinic was leaking information about the players’ recovery progress.’

’It was impossible to stop.’

’On top of that, they were the house. They took a cut regardless of a match’s outcome and weren’t concerned with the profit or loss of a single game. As long as they were profitable in the long run, that was enough.’

’It was a business with massive returns; it was hard to even lose money.’

’And since they were inextricably linked with professional sports, they also had the motivation to grow and improve the sports market, which is why one could say the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.’

’But the prerequisite for all of this was regulation.’

’So, Chen Yu’s advice at the time had been that if they wanted long-term, healthy development, they should forgo short-term profits, endure the short-term pain, and strive for regulation.’

’You can’t wrap fire in paper. It would be embarrassing if this whole thing got exposed, and it wouldn’t look good for you all, would it?’

’As for why the football lottery was launched in ’01 but never included the Chinese Super League, wasn’t it simply because the Sports Lottery Center felt the league wasn’t legitimate enough?’

’The Sports Lottery Center wasn’t part of the same department as the Sports Bureau. Just like the Ministry of Education, they didn’t give a damn about the Sports Bureau.’

Therefore, this component was included in the upcoming commercialization plan.

Chen Yu wasn’t sure of the exact timing, but a massive crackdown was set to launch either this season or the next.

Then, they would work to negotiate a profit-sharing agreement with the Sports Lottery Center and promote a regulated football lottery.

So, if Huanghe Tower was really running a private betting operation, they were just grasshoppers in late autumn—their days were numbered.

A reckoning wasn’t being ignored; it was simply a matter of time.

With a clear picture in his mind, Chen Yu didn’t dwell on it any longer.

In any case, Pioneer’s business model was completely aboveboard and impossible to replicate, so from a long-term perspective, Chen Yu had no need to resort to such crooked methods.

Besides, money earned that way only brings trouble.

The Internal Revenue Service is not to be trifled with.

The match ended, and the two teams ultimately tied.

Chen Yu stood up and applauded, his gaze drifting involuntarily toward the Huanghe Tower bench below.

’After this draw, they would likely fall from first place in the standings.’

’But judging by their reaction, they didn’t seem too disappointed.’

’Too many people must have bet on them to win.’

When the match was over, the Pioneer players didn’t rush off the field. Led by Batty and Kaginya, they all went to the sidelines and bowed to all the fans in attendance, thanking them for buying tickets to watch the game.

This was also something Chen Yu had required.

The fans were gods; they had to be treated with the utmost respect.

What kind of attitude was it to just storm off to the locker room with a long face the moment the match ended?

In the NBA, even if you lost the Finals, you had to dutifully stop and sign autographs for fans on your way through the player tunnel.

The funny thing was, even the Huanghe Tower players ran over specifically to ask Batty and Kaginya for autographs on their jerseys, followed by photos.

It couldn’t be helped; many of the younger players had grown up watching Batty play.

In Chen Yu’s eyes, this debut match had been a complete success.

The next day, riding the wave of frantic media coverage, Chen Yu seized the opportunity to announce some of the club’s revenue figures.

He had to show certain people that you could make money legitimately, too.