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`Steel Roses' coach faces the axe after hotpot spat

China's new women's soccer coach is already facing the axe after repeated clashes with officials, including a furious row over a hotpot dinner, state media reported yesterday.

Frenchwoman Elisabeth Loisel, who was appointed in October, is likely to be sacked if the "Steel Roses" disappoint at next week's East Asian Cup, reports said.

"She is walking on a knife-edge," Titan Sports Weekly said. "Her only chance will be to win the East Asian Cup."

Loisel is apparently locked in a feud with Chinese team management with her ability and training methods also coming under fire in domestic media.

Tempers reached boiling point over the hotpot dispute, with officials reportedly ordering Loisel to keep out of off-pitch affairs.

According to the Beijing Morning Post, Loisel ordered players not to attend the dinner arranged by Chinese officials because of dietary concerns.

But Chinese officials hit back, over-ruling the hotpot ban and issuing a public rebuke against the Frenchwoman.

The former French national coach was hired after the abrupt departure of Sweden's Marika Domanski-Lyfors following a poor run in the women's World Cup.

She is tasked with guiding China to a semi-final place at the Beijing Olympics in August.

Media reports say she is regarded by the Chinese side as too insistent on her authority as chief coach and is unwilling to listen.

Another focus for Chinese anger was her decision to bring 33-year-old former international star Zhang Ouying back into the side, a move strongly opposed by the team manager, the report said.

This week she reportedly called the players together for a private meeting and told them she no longer trusted the Chinese officials.

Under the headline "Coach's job at risk," Titan said soccer chiefs were divided on whether to fire her now or keep her, but she would probably be forced out after the East Asian Cup.

"Her only defense is to win it," the paper said.

After a brief honeymoon following her appointment, including two wins over New Zealand, Loisel has had a hard time in China.

The coach was singled out for criticism after a four-team tournament in southern Guangzhou last month in which China lost 1-0 to the US, beat Finland 2-0 and drew with Canada 0-0.
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