Sour Grapes: Fists fly in the great brawl of China

Jiangsu Suning midfielder Wu Xi is kicked in the back by a Wuhan Hongxing player during a Chinese FA Cup football match on Wednesday.

Chinese football authorities launched an investigation on Thursday after a mass brawl erupted at a Cup match involving big-spending Jiangsu Suning, with one player receiving a kung fu-style flying kick.

Violence broke out when towering Jiangsu striker Ge Wei scored in the ninth minute of extra time for a 1-0 win against amateur side Wuhan Hongxing, prompting enraged Wuhan players to attack the visiting team.

The ruckus saw Chinese international midfielder Wu Xi receive a flying kick to the back as fists flew and combatants chased each other across the pitch.

Jiangsu led a world-leading transfer spending spree earlier this year but because of Chinese FA Cup rules, megabucks signings Alex Teixeira, Ramires and Jo were not playing on Wednesday.

The Chinese Football Association called it a “very serious breach of discipline”.

“The Chinese FA takes this matter very seriously and have already launched a formal investigation,” the body said in a statement.

English teacher Jamie McIlroy, who was at the match, said: “I’ve never seen anything like it... The Wuhan bench just all ran on the pitch and started attacking the Jiangsu players. It was totally Wuhan’s fault. They kept wasting time blatantly and I think they simply couldn’t take getting beat.”

Wuhan general manager Huang Chenggao, in an interview with Sina Sports, apologised for the fight.