A star of the Chinese Olympic soccer team 'shocked' and 'shamed' top officials after he was sent off in an international for kicking a Portuguese opponent in the neck kung fu-style.
The Chinese Football Association issued a statement saying midfielder Zhou Haibin's flying kick was a 'shameful act of violence on the field of play' which had 'brought shame on Chinese football'.
The incident happened in stoppage time of the first half in the third place play-off against Portugal at the U21 Toulon tournament in France.
With the ball in the air Zhou jumped high and drove his boots into the neck of the Portuguese midfielder, in what Chinese officials later described as 'a wild act'. The referee blew the whistle immediately to call half-time and gave Zhou a red card.
China went on to lose the game 1-0, with captain Chen Tao missing a penalty in the second half.
Aside from the automatic one-game Fifa suspension, CFA officials and his club Shandong Luneng said they would be handing out additional punishment to the 21-year-old player.
'Zhou's behaviour has created a negative influence on the society. It has damaged his personal image and the public image of Chinese football,' the CFA said.
