An ill-tempered women’s under-19 match between China and Australia ended with a mass brawl and accusations of cheating on Monday, Chinese media reported.
It was another blow for the reputation of Chinese soccer two weeks after a referee was attacked by players in a men’s inter-provincial tournament, resulting in one player being banned for life.
China won the Asian under-19s championship match 2-1, holding on for victory despite a late appeal for a penalty from the Australians, who were aghast to see the referee award a free kick outside the box.
Australia’s Jessica Seaman was dismissed on full time and a bench-clearing brawl ensued, with the Wuhan crowd joining in by pelting the visitors with water bottles as they left the pitch.
China coach Gao Rongming blamed his team’s inexperience for their part in the incidents, but Alen Stajcic, head coach of the Australian under-20 women’s team, said the match was an embarrassment for the hosts.
“We’ve prepared for 12 months to have an embarrassing sporting event take place like that in China,” Stajcic told the Asian Football Confederation Web site, www.the-afc.com.
“That’s not sport. Sport’s played by two equal teams battling for sporting supremacy, not that kind of behavior,” Stajcic said. “On the field, off the field, it’s not good enough. It’s not good enough. I’d be embarrassed if I were the host of this event after that game. It’s not good enough.”
The tournament also acts as a qualifier for FIFA’s under-20 World Cup and the defeat makes Australia unlikely to secure a spot in Germany for next year.
“We created many opportunities, but some non-sporting factors decided this match,” the Beijing News quoted Stajcic as saying.
“Our opponents held up the game by faking dives and injuries, which caused our loss,” Stajcic said.
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