Brawling soccer players charged over death

BEIJING - Eight amateur Chinese soccer players have been charged after an on-pitch fight which led to the death of a player from neck injuries.

The eight, from Zibo in the eastern province of Shandong, were charged with causing an intentional injury after they beat up the player during a local tournament match in July.

Players and sports fans alike have frequently embarrassed authorities in China and their unruly behaviour has raised questions about Beijing's readiness to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

The fight in Shandong started when the home team Zibo Sunday Saints met the Weifang Devils from the neighbouring city of Weifang.

In the second half, a midfielder with the Saints was attacked by several Weifang Devils players after a squabble turned ugly and triggered a group fight, Xinhua news agency said, quoting a prosecution source.

The player died in hospital five days later of severe neck injuries.

"It's an appalling incident," Li Min, secretary of Zibo Football Association, was quoted as saying.

Violence is not uncommon in China's scandal-plagued soccer leagues, especially the amateur ones that have little supervision.

On Sept. 25, players in an amateur match in the central province of Sichuan crushed the referee's hand and leg bones and left him mildly concussed, Xinhua said.

On June 25, in a match in the eastern city of Qingdao, a spectator was hit in the face by a player who stormed up into the stands after being targeted with bottles and watermelon rinds.

"A source with the Jinan Football League (in Shandong) said last year they even found substitute players carrying knives on to the field and fortunately they called the police and stopped what they called a potential bloody nightmare," Xinhua said.

At the international level, fans have also been embroiled in trouble. Last year thousands drowned out Japan's national anthem with booing at the Asian Cup and turned violent when Japan beat them in Beijing.

In August, again in Beijing, a basketball international between China and Puerto Rico was marred by a brawl between players, spurred by fans who hurled insults and missiles at the visiting team.

The city has launched a campaign to educate the public on sports etiquette, covering from when to applaud to cheering for all athletes, not only Chinese.

- REUTERS