Chiu sent off as Golden defeated

HONG KONG newcomers Golden again fell foul of local referees during their tour of Vietnam yesterday when they were beaten 2-1 by the country's national team.

International midfielder Chiu Chung-man, playing on loan from South China this season, received his marching orders after taking a kick at an opposition defender at a stage when his team were a goal ahead.

Chiu had been the subject of some controversial tackles by the Vietnamese but he was considered the offender when the referee gave him a yellow card for complaining too loudly about a bad tackle.

And four minutes from half-time the intimidation proved too much for Chiu, who retaliated and was immediately marched.

The decision incensed his teammates and there was a minor scuffle between them and their Vietnamese counterparts.

The local fans did not react too kindly to the incident and pelted Chiu with plastic bottles as he left the pitch.