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China lose to Japan in physical clash

China defender Li Weifeng, left, confronts Japan midfielder Keita Suzuki during their match in Chongqing, China, on Wednesday. Japan won 1-0. PHOTO: AP

With the Beijing Olympics looming and China's image at stake, their hostile and sometimes abusive soccer fans have been told to shut up.

Organizers of the East Asian championships issued a public notice before the tournament banning unruly behavior, and the message was reinforced ahead of their game against Japan on Wednesday.

Some 3,000 security guards were reportedly on hand and eight green military-type trucks were seen near the main gate of the 60,000-seat Olympic Sports Center in Chongqing, which was heavily bombed by Japan in World War II.

It followed Chinese spectators, still angry at their neighbor's World War II aggression, persistently booing, jeering and throwing rubbish at three-time Asian champions Japan on Sunday when they played North Korea.

They did the same at the 2004 Asian Cup in China, hurling cups and plastic bottles at Japanese supporters.

The 2004 event almost ended in a riot after Japan beat China in the final and a Japanese diplomat's car was attacked.

Chinese police and security guards stand guard at the players' entrance after the match between China and Japan in Chongqing, China, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

Ahead of Wednesday's match, which Japan won 1-0, local media carried articles saying true soccer fans respect their opponents, according to a Chinese journalist.

At the stadium, officials used the public address system called on the crowd to "refrain from using abusive language."

Chinese supporters largely adhered to the warnings and did not boo the Japanese national anthem, although some were seen lighting smoke flares and burning small Japanese flags.

Instead they turned their wrath on their own underachieving team, with tempers flaring towards the end of the game as the crowd booed and chanted "fire him," directed at China Football Association (CFA) chief Xie Yalong.

They also threw plastic bottles on the pitch as Koji Yamase's early strike proved decisive for China's second-straight defeat.

Chinese newspapers expressed dismay at the latest failure of the national side, also blaming the CFA.

"China loses to Japan: Why?" asked the mass-circulation Beijing Morning Post in its main headline

"Chinese football has deteriorated over the past 10 years. Why? The China Football Association can't shrug off the blame. Only it can answer this `why?' Give us an explanation," the paper said.

The Star Daily, a Beijing tabloid, said: "To be honest, there is nothing surprising about losing to Japan. It would have been a real surprise if we had beaten them instead."

While the supporters' behavior was better-than-expected, the Chinese let rip on the pitch, picking up four yellow cards for some wild tackles in a bad-tempered game.

Japan also picked up two yellow cards as tensions boiled over.

"Hit back when you get hit. That's the spirit. I felt it was what I should do, at least," Japan midfielder Keita Suzuki said.
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