A RECORD crowd of 53,898 packed the newly renovated Beijing Workers’ Stadium last Friday as Beijing Guoan took on defending champions Shanghai Port in the first home game of the 2024 Chinese Super League season. Among the throngs of passionate fans, one seat remained conspicuously empty, with a snowflake pattern printed on its backrest. It was reserved in memory of Yang Xue, a devoted Beijing Guoan supporter who succumbed to illness and passed away the previous Tuesday. Yang Xue, whose given name means snow in Chinese, was a member of Beijing Guoan’s fan organization and an ardent supporter of the team for 19 years — nearly half her life. Remarkably, she hadn’t missed a single home game in several CSL seasons and had visited almost all the CSL teams’ home stadiums, including international venues such as the Bernabeu, Camp Nou and Lusail. Initially suffering from back pain after the Spring Festival holidays in February, Yang was later found to have a rare tumor, which turned out to be an aggressive form of cancer. Faced with such a grim prognosis, Yang fought bravely, clinging to hope and undergoing treatment. In her final days, even while on a respirator, she continued to follow Beijing Guoan’s matches and post-match interviews online. “There will be a star in the shape of a snowflake in the sky to bless you all,” Yang left her last words on social media. On Wednesday, the club placed the snowflake pattern on the seat that Yang, a season ticket holder, had always occupied in recent years, Section 109, Row 7, Seat 6. “The seat is permanently reserved for Yang, and will not be available for any events in the future,” said Zhou Jinhui, chairman of Beijing Guoan Football Club. On March 31, during a match against Wuhan Three Towns, Guoan players displayed a jersey with the message “Cheer Up Yang Xue” as a tribute. “I would like to send my heartfelt condolences and a big hug to Yang’s family. This is a difficult time for them. Our team must give them some strength,” said Beijing Guoan head coach Ricardo Soares on Qingming, which fell April 4 this year. (Xinhua) | 