Former soccer star receives flak for comment made on reality show

A reality show that is broadcast on one of the biggest video websites in China has been accused of promoting incorrect values after a former soccer player, one of the show's guests, said that one of the prerequisites for the man who wants to marry his daughter is owning a house in Shanghai.

The criticism by Shanghai's Wenhui Daily came after Fan Zhiyi, 50, a Shanghai native and former captain of the Chinese national football team, made the remark on the Daughters' Boyfriends reality show that was produced by Tencent.

Fan insisted that he would not compromise on this requirement, explaining that it was the duty of a man to buy a house for the family. He also said that he would not help with the down payment.

Shanghai's property prices are among the highest of Chinese cities. The average home price in the city in 2018 was about 54,000 yuan ($7,900) per square meters.

Many netizens have since waded into the debate, with some noting that not many men under the age of 30 can afford an apartment in Shanghai, and that both husband and wife should jointly finance the home.

There are also those who support Fan, saying that from the father's standpoint, no one would want his daughter to marry a man who is unable to provide her with a decent life. This is especially so when the daughter comes from a wealthy family.

Wenhui Daily published an article on the front page of its May 12 issue to criticize the reality show. It pointed out that such shows should not generate content that would divide public opinion, and that they should promote healthy values instead.

Fan has yet to respond to the criticism by press time.