Wei Shihao (without jersey) celebrates when Guangzhou Evergrande clinch the 2019 Chinese Super League title. Wei was fined RMB300,000 by the club for misbehaviour during a China national team training camp last year. Photo: Xinhua
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https://scmp.com/sport/football/article/3075094/chinese-super-league-champions-guangzhou-evergrande-fine-naturalised Football
Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande fine naturalised player Fernando RMB 3 million
- The former Brazilian forward only joined Guangzhou from Hebei China Fortune in January
- Reports say Fernando was fined after reporting late for Dubai a pre-season training camp
Fernando Conceicao playing for Chongqing before his move to Guangzhou Evergrande. Photo: Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images
Chinese Super League giants Guangzhou Evergrande handed out the biggest fine in CSL history to a player on Friday when they penalised forward Fernando Conceicao RMB3 million for misbehaviour during the club’s pre-season camp in Dubai.
A club circular to its players and coaching staff said Fernando had seriously infringed club regulations and after investigating the incident they decided to “reprimand the player and fine him RMB3 million as punishment”.
Evergrande would only disclose that Fernando refused to follow the head coach and club’s instructions during their pre-season trip to Dubai from late February but according to a prominent reporter from mainland newspaper Soccer News, the player was late to report for pre-season and was missing from training.
The club returned home from Dubai on Wednesday and the players will now endure a 14-day self-quarantine period according to reports in the mainland.
Fernando only joined the league champions from Hebei China Fortune in January but it is reported the former Brazilian has already changed his status to a naturalised player after his first appearance in China for Chongqing Lifan in 2015.
Fans celebrate as Guangzhou Evergrande lift their eighth league championship in 2019. Photo: Xinhua
Evergrande have a history of handing down sizeable fines to their players as punishment for perceived misbehaviour.
Former midfield powerhouse Dario Conca was fined RMB1 million for improper comments made after an AFC Champions League match in 2012 and suspended him for nine matches while former China national team captain Zheng Zhi was reprimanded after a league match against Tianjin Quanjian in 2017 and RMB 100,000 was deducted from his bonus. Last year, China international Wei Shihao was fined RMB 300,000 by the club after he broke rules during a national team training camp in Guangzhou prior to their 2022 World Cup Asian zone qualifier against Philippines.
Zheng Zhi (right) plays for Guangzhou Evergrande during an AFC Champions League round of 16 match against Tianjin Quanjian. Photo: AFP
Since his debut in China, Fernando, who can play as a right winger or centre forward, has scored 27 goals with 35 assists in 108 appearances. The 26-year-old is said to be included in the national team squad as a naturalised player when China play Maldives and Guam in their next two World Cup qualifiers.