Chinese footballer punished for violent play on Vietnamese player

Wei Shihao (number 7) gets sent off during the game between Hanoi FC and Wuhan Three Towns in AFC Champions League on Nov. 8, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Trung Nhu

In the second half of the game with Hanoi FC on Nov. 8, Shihao tackled Pham Xuan Manh and got him on the ground. It would have been just a normal foul if Shihao stopped there. When Manh was trying to get up, he got kicked in the face by Shihao. This unsportsmanlike act could not escape the referee’s eyes. Without checking the play on VAR, the referee immediately gave Shihao a straight red card.

After Shihao got sent off, Wuhan played with 10 men and conceded a late goal scored by striker Pham Tuan Hai, losing 1-2 in the end.

Hanoi’s victory against Wuhan was their very first at the ACL.

On Sunday, the Asian Football Confederation announced to suspend Shihao for three matches in AFC Champions League this season and fine him $1,000.

Wuhan won’t have Shihao in the remaining two games of the ACL group stage against two strong clubs Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) and Pohang Steelers (South Korea).

On Chinese social networks Weibo and Sina, many fans said Shihao should be banned from the national team as his short temper has earned him a significant amount of red cards throughout his career.

After four games in ACL, Wuhan have four points and placed third in group J, one point more than Hanoi. Both teams still have hope to compete for the second place with Urawa, who got four points. Pohang already secured a spot in the next round with 12 points.