(CNN) A retired Chinese soccer star has openly called for the downfall of China's ruling Communist Party, in what he says was the "biggest and most correct decision" of his life. Hao Haidong, 50, was a household name among millions of soccer fans in China in the 1990s and 2000s, and briefly played for English club Sheffield United, but in recent years had been relatively low profile. On Thursday, however, he made a surprise appearance in two videos on the YouTube channel of Guo Wengui, an exiled Chinese tycoon and fierce critic of the Chinese government. In the first video , Hao read out in Chinese a manifesto of the "Federal State of New China," a government proposed by Guo as an alternative to the Chinese Communist regime. "The Communist Party's totalitarian rule in China has caused horrific atrocities against humanity," he said, denouncing the party as a "terrorist organization" that has "trampled over democracy, violated the rule of law and dishonored lawful agreements."

Source: CNN June 07, 2020 01:41 UTC