Players hide in police station after fans riot
China's basketball league once again made headlines for all the wrong reasons as fan violence broke out at a game on Friday night.
Spectators in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, attacked the visiting Fujian Xunxing team during and after their game against the Zhejiang Horses.
The chaos was sparked by a brawl between rival fans, which allegedly drew indecent gestures from one Fujian player.
Tension reached such a level that the visitors had to seek asylum in a police station when the game ended until officers dispersed the angry crowd at their hotel.
'People pelted bricks at our team bus after the game and we were told some protesters were waiting for us at the hotel,' Fujian's point guard Lu Xiaoming told the sina.com website. 'I had never been through this kind of mess before.'
The dispute, between a travelling Fujian fan group and some home supporters broke out in the second half of the game. The uproar provoked Fujian forward Gong Songlin, who, Zhejiang fans claimed, flashed his middle finger at the stands.
In response, missiles rained down on the court, forcing an interruption.
The chaos continued after the game resumed when a home spectator sneaked behind the basket and rocked the post when Fujian players made free-throw attempts.
Zhejiang eventually beat Fujian 90-82.
