'Even Tried My Wrist': 'Vampire' Football Coach's Blood-For-Grades Scandal Shocks Taiwan

Last Updated:July 19, 2025, 14:23 IST

The coach compelled female students to donate blood—sometimes as often as thrice a day—on the premise that it would help them earn academic credits needed for graduation

The coach allegedly threatened students with failing grades or disqualification from the team if they refused to comply. (Pixabay Image for Representation)

In an unimaginable twist of academic pressure, Taiwan found itself at the centre of a bizarre scandal involving a football coach who allegedly used blood donations as a condition for students to earn graduation credits.

The revelation came to light after a student from National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) publicly accused 61-year-old coach Zhou Tai-ying, a member of a prominent university’s football department, of compelling female students to donate blood—sometimes as often as three times a day—on the premise that these donations would help them earn the much-coveted academic credits needed for graduation.

In what has been described as a “vampire" tactic, the so-called blood-for-grades scheme involved numerous students, many of whom were barely able to endure the repeated withdrawals, with some even struggling to find veins for the increasingly frequent procedures.

Several other students soon came forward with similar stories, shedding light on the coercive nature of the arrangement. They claimed the blood donations were mandatory for continuing their participation in the football team, with their academic futures hanging in the balance.

South China Morning Post reported that the blood was drawn by untrained personnel under the guise of “on-campus research experiments". Research subsidies meant for student participants were allegedly collected by Zhou as “team funds".

Several news outlets reported that the coach allegedly threatened students with failing grades or disqualification from the team if they refused to comply. The ordeal, which lasted for months, sparked outrage from both students and the public alike, with accusations of abuse, manipulation, and exploitation quickly circulating.

Medical experts have expressed alarm over the health risks posed by repeated blood donations in such a short period. Some students reportedly became weak and faint, and a few even required medical attention after multiple blood withdrawals. The blood donations were allegedly taken by the coach, bypassing standard procedures that would normally involve licensed medical professionals.

On July 13, the university announced it had dismissed Zhou from her administrative and coaching roles and barred her from leading any future teams. The university also shared a handwritten apology letter from Zhou, in which she stated, “I sincerely apologise for the harm caused to the students involved, to the faculty, and the university’s reputation. I deeply regret the emotional distress caused to the students and want to say sorry to all of you."

At the heart of the scandal lies a deeper issue: the pressure students face to succeed at any cost, even if it means sacrificing their health and dignity.

Apoorva Misra

Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S...Read More

Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S...

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Beijing, China

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News world 'Even Tried My Wrist': 'Vampire' Football Coach's Blood-For-Grades Scandal Shocks Taiwan