Stamp on Tianjin Quanjian’s Axel Witsel by Shanghai Shenhua’s Qin Sheng casts shadow over Chinese Super League
Midfielder fined ¥300,000 (HK$336,780) and forced to train with reserves with coach Gus Poyet calling the incident in Saturday’s 1-1 draw “unnecessary”
Chinese football claimed global headlines again this weekend, but this time for the wrong reasons as a stamp by Shanghai Shenhua midfielder Qin Sheng on Tianjin Quanjian’s Belgium international Axel Witsel during Saturday’s 1-1 draw in the Super League cast a shadow over the new domestic season.
Former Jiangsu Suning, Guangzhou Evergrande and Liaoning Whowin midfielder Qin was shown a straight red card after just 24 minutes of Shenhua’s second match of the 2017 season after blatantly treading on the foot of Tianjin’s new signing as they jostled for position inside the penalty area while waiting for a Carlos Tevez corner.
Qin has been fined ¥300,000 (HK$336,780) by Shenhua and will be forced to train with reserves after the action in a game which was broadcast live around the world, including on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, with coach Gus Poyet saying “unnecessary is the right word to describe this foul.”
“Qin Sheng is asked to make a public apology in front of the whole team and he will report to the reserve team and train with them from today,” said a Shenhua club statement.
¡COMO SI FUERA UN NENE!#TevezxFOX | Insólita expulsión de Qin Sheng en un ¡córner a favor! y generó el fastidio de Carlitos... pic.twitter.com/EJAxorML58— FOX Sports Argentina (@FOXSportsArg) March 11, 2017
“According to the disciplines and rules of Shenhua for 2017, he will be fined ¥300,000, and if he gets another red card, the sum will be doubled and so on.