Football fan detained for abuse as clubs unite against misconduct

BEIJING -- A leading member of a Tianjin football supporters' group has been punished with seven-day administrative detention and banned from attending future matches after leading abusive chants targeting an opposing player and his family during a Chinese Super League (CSL) match.

The abuse occurred in the 85th minute of Tianjin Jinmen Tigers' 2-1 home victory over Chengdu Rongcheng on Friday at the TEDA Football Stadium. The fan surnamed Jiang, a prominent figure within a local supporters' group in the South Stand, used a loudspeaker to direct insults towards Chengdu player Wei Shihao and his relatives, audible over the stadium's sound system.

The verbal abuse provoked a confrontation, with Wei responding towards the stands and receiving a yellow card for his reaction. Despite the incident, Wei later converted a penalty for Chengdu. He was sent off in the dying moments of the match after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Tianjin goalkeeper Yan Bingliang.

The Tianjin Football Association issued a statement Sunday condemning the fan's action as a "serious violation of sportsmanship and social order" with a "negative impact." Following an investigation by the Tianjin police, Jiang was identified as the instigator of the chants.

The Chinese Professional Football League (CFL), governing body of China's professional leagues, strongly condemned the abuse in an early Sunday announcement, pledging to "work with relevant departments to fully resist and resolutely crack down on all provocative, abusive, slanderous, defamatory, divisive and violent behaviors."

All 16 CSL clubs subsequently endorsed the CFL statement through their official social media channels, urging fans to "maintain match order and league's environment."