Shanghai SIPG striker Hulk avoids punishment over alleged racially motivated coach punch
Chinese Football Association confirm no action will be taken against Brazilian striker following the incident at the weekend against Guizhou Zhicheng
Brazilian Hulk is expected to avoid punishment following allegations the Shanghai SIPG striker punched an opposition coach in a racially motivated attack at the weekend.
The development has angered many Chinese fans, with some critics suggesting foreign players were being disciplined more leniently than locals.
Hulk was accused of knocking Guizhou Zhicheng assistant coach Yu Ming to the ground in the tunnel at half-time in Saturday’s Chinese Super League fixture at Shanghai Stadium, with Guizhou coach Li Bing initially suggesting Hulk did so because he “despises Chinese people”.
But both clubs are now believed to have reached an agreement over the incident which was denied by SIPG, while Li claimed: “I can’t accept that Hulk insulted us first and punched our coach first”.
The development has been greeted with displeasure from fans in China, with the decision following the news that, following pressure from Chinese officials, Shanghai Shenhua midfielder Qin Sheng abruptly withdrew his appeal on the eve of a court appearance against an earlier imposed six-month suspension for stamping on a foreign player.