China Sets The New Standard For Discipline

You may recall that referee rundown which took place in China over the week (see above for a refresher). It was actually a youth-type game, rather than a Super League game, as no one was reporting at the time, so it’s not as bad for the dwindling image of the sport in China – but it’s still bad. The lad, Zhao Shitong, chased the referee around the pitch for showing a red card and pushed him down.

And so they’ve banned him for life.

But they didn’t stop there. No, they kept the pain coming for anyone who was involved with this little fracas:

Zhao was banned for life from any activity related to football, the CFA said in a statement on its website

Several of his team mates were also handed lengthy bans for their part in the attack on He, who had dismissed three Tianjin players in Beijing’s 3-1 victory.
Goalkeeper Li Gen and midfielder Hao Tengjiao, who chased the referee off the pitch, were each given three-year bans.
Two other players were banned for 30 months, two for two years, one for 10 matches and one for five matches.

China’s reputation has been bruised and battered through no fault but their own lately, so this is partially, if not wholly, a warning to those involved in the sport: fly right, or else.

And while the actions were different – one is for threatening behavior, one is for questioning the integrity of an acronym – would anyone like to see what would happen if the Chinese FA was given carte blanch over Chelsea v Barca at Stamford Bridge?

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Category: Asia