Chinese City Xi'an Banned of Home Matches after Football Riot

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 28, 2002

Chinese City Xi'an Banned of Home Matches after Football Riot

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Xi'an Fans Riot

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced Wednesday in Beijing that the city of Xi'an's organizers have been banned to host the season's remaining matches for home club Sha'anxi Guoli of the Chinese first division league and fined an equivalent of 12,000 US dollars.

The punishment on Xi'an's organizers was handed down for their responsibility over a riot following a controversial match last Sunday. Enraged fans clashed with police officers, set fire on the stand and a police van at the end of the first division match between Sha'anxi Guoli and Qingdao Hainiu. The match ended a 3-3 draw.

Guoli fans rioted in and outside the Xi'an stadium after a seemingly victory was blown away by referee Zhou Weixin three minutes into injury time. Zhou awarded the visiting Qingdao team a penalty kick after a Guoli defender fouled inside the box in the 92nd minute, with Guoli leading 3-2. The penalty kick was converted to a goal, which ensured a draw.

Angrily reacting on what was thought an unfair refereeing decision, a home fan ran onto the field to hit the referee, some burned newspapers on the stand and threw debris onto the field, with a visiting player wounded on his head. Other fans clashed with police officers outside the stadium, torched a police van and broke the windows of several other vehicles with rocks and bricks.

More than a dozen fans were arrested on the spot.

Yang Yimin, an official of the CFA, said at a press conference here on Wednesday that after repeated review of the video tape recording, CFA's referees commission came to the conclusion that Zhou's decision was right and just.

It is the first football riot this season in China.

Xi'an fans also rioted in the 2000 season, after which the citywas not allowed to host six following home matches for the club Guoli.

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