CFA bans Cuca, Shandong players for brawl
Print Edition
THE Chinese Football Association came down strongly against Brazilian coach Cuca and his Shandong Luneng players, hitting them with big fines and bans, and also ending the career of a linesman following a post-match brawl after a Chinese Super League match earlier this month.
Cuca was slapped with a seven-month ban and fined a whopping 140,000 yuan (US$22,554) for attacking linesman Zhan Wei after the match against Guizhou Renhe on June 4. It means Cuca will miss the rest of the 2015 CSL season and all the other matches organized by the CFA till January 5, 2016.
Shandong shared a three-way tie at the top of the standings with defending champion Guangzhou Evergrande and Beijing Guo’an when it took on bottom side Guizhou. The match, played in Guiyang, ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
The reason for Cuca’s ire was a disallowed goal that denied Shandong two key points that would have made it the sole leader at the top.
After Shandong defender Li Songyi found the net in the 69th minute that looked like the winner, referee Xu Fuxin, who first signaled it a goal, ruled it offside after spotting linesman Zhan Wei’s raised flag.
Reviews showed it was a correct call.
A disappointed Li walked up to referee Xu after the match to question his decision, only to be shown a yellow card. All hell broke lose thereafter as the Shandong bench emptied and surrounded the match officials.
In the melee, Cuca and Zhan got into a fist fight. TV footages and pictures showed Zhan sitting on the pitch with a hand on his head. Police moved in to escort the referees back into the tunnel.
A Shandong Luneng team official later told reporters that Cuca had suffered a 5-centimeter gash on his left eye socket. However, there have been reports that Cuca and others rounded up Zhan inside the tunnel as well, which could not be substantiated as there were no surveillance cameras.
“Not happy with referee’s decision, Cuca abused and targeted the referee after the match. He also hit first assistant referee (Zhan Wei) in the tunnel. It reflects badly and makes a poor social statement...,” the CFA said in a statement on its website yesterday.
Cuca’s brother Stival, who is an assistant coach, was given a 9-month ban and fined 180,000 yuan for “attacking the first assistant referee on the pitch and in the tunnel.”
Zhan Wei himself was handed a 12-month ban for attacking Cuca on the pitch. The 45-year-old Shanghai-based linesman was to retire at the end of the season. The ban effectively ends his career on a sad note.
Shandong goalkeeper Shao Puliang was banned for four months and fined 80,000 yuan for his part in the brawl in the tunnel. Defender Li Songyi is out for 10 CSL matches and fined 50,000 yuan for abusing and shoving Zhan on the pitch.
Luneng club official Wang Liancheng was banned for eight CSL games and fined 40,000 yuan for dragging and hitting Zhan after the game.
CFA said the decisions were taken after reviewing reports from the referees, referee supervisor, match supervisor, clubs, video footage, evidence collected by police and statement of witnesses.
Guizhou Renhe was sounded off for failing to maintain order on its home ground.
The penalties come ahead of Shandong’s key match tonight against title rival and defending champion Guangzhou Evergrande.
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