On July 23rd, a storm came to the Chinese soccer world. In the 15th round of the First Division League match between Nanjing and Liaoning Shenyang, a focal point became a target. That was Duan Xin, the coach of Liaoning Shenyang, who lost control of his emotions and struck out at referee Chen Hao after a controversial call, a scene that shocked the entire soccer circle.
At the end of the first half, a Liaoning Shenyang player lodged a complaint against referee Chen Hao, claiming to have been elbowed by a Nanjing player. Subsequently, the two sides were arguing and the Shenyang player was shown a yellow card by Chen Hao. This penalty angered the Liaoning coaching staff, Duan Xin intervened and Chen Hao showed the red card. The out-of-control Duan Xin, in a fit of rage, went so far as to give Chen Hao a resounding slap on the wrist.
Immediately afterward, an unbelievable scene unfolded. Duan Xin fainted on the spot on the sidelines after swinging his slap, and was then quickly taken to an ambulance. The 62-year-old coach, who led the Shenyang youth soccer team to win the championship, has made indelible contributions to soccer.
Duan Xin's violent behavior has sparked widespread attention, especially his illustrious history in soccer. However, behind this incident, Duan Xin's health condition has also raised concerns. It is understood that he suffers from high blood pressure, and although he is not seriously injured after the incident, he still needs to be taken seriously.
Chen Hao, the referee who was beaten, has also attracted attention, and his black identity has also sparked heated debate on the Internet. Many years ago, Chen Hao was controversially suspended for "catching a plane for 55 minutes" during a match between Hangzhou Greentown and Meizhou Hakka. The incident was eventually investigated by the CFA, but no specific punishment was handed down.
Duan Xin's violent behavior forced the Chinese Football Association to punish him. Looking back at history, this is not the first time similar incidents have occurred. Former Shandong Luneng manager Kucka was banned for seven months after a clash with a referee, while Dorado was banned for a year after colliding with referee Maning.
This incident reminds us once again that no referee should resort to violent behavior, regardless of whether there is any error on his part. At the same time, the CFA should also reflect on the situation and investigate and intervene in controversial penalties in matches to ensure the fairness of the league and prevent it from becoming a hotbed for gambling and match-fixing.
In the world of soccer, outbursts and calmness go hand in hand. Hopefully this incident will serve as a wake-up call for all to be more rational about the game and the referee.
