Sun Jihai from Dalian Wanda has been banned for one year from international matches for head butting an assistant referee in an Olympic qualifying match in October, his club Dalian Wanda said in a statement.

The club said in the statement that they were notified by the international soccer's governing body FIFA, who said the ban started on December 17, 1999.

The former Crystal Palace player was also banned for one month from taking part in any match in China, which means that the national defender will miss several league matches, the club said.

Li Jisan, Managing Director of Wanda, told Xinhua that his club will not appeal the ban.

FIFA said Sun hit the assistant referee with his head after the final whistle in the October 3 match against South Korea in Seoul.

The hosts won 1-0.

After the failure to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the Chinese Football Association fired the head coach Bobby Houghton of Britain last week.