The clash of warring English football giants Arsenal and Manchester United last weekend was not a good advertisement for the so-called 'beautiful game'.
One star player was accused of cheating, another of maliciously injuring an opponent. The referee was said to have been biased. And to cap it all, Manchester United's manager was reportedly pelted with soup, sandwiches and pizza by a rival player. These unsporting activities have tarnished the reputation of top-level football in the home of the modern game. But for all the attention the antics in Manchester have attracted, they pale in comparison to the problems facing club football in the mainland.
There, where the free-market form of the sport is still very much in its infancy, football is facing a crisis.
It all began with a questionable refereeing decision in Shenyang. The home team was awarded a late penalty. Their opponents, from Beijing, were outraged - and walked off the pitch in protest. The game had to be abandoned.
This rather petulant display may, at first glance, appear to be a minor interference with the smooth operation of China's Super League - it might almost be put in the pizza-throwing category. But the walkout was a symptom of a much more serious problem. And the repercussions are threatening to cause the collapse of the league.
The problems facing the game are familiar to the mainland - and are certainly not restricted to the sporting world. They might be seen as reflections of China's transition to a free-market economy.