CFA starts review of controversial officiating in a CSL game

BEIJING - The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has started an independent review of football officiating in a controversial Chinese Super League (CSL) game between Shandong Luneng and Henan Jianye on March 9.

Shandong Luneng filed a complaint following their 2-2 draw in the March 9 CSL game, claiming referee Fu Ming made four controversial refereeing decisions in the second round match.

Fu officiated at the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA 2018 World Cup and this year's Asian Cup earlier this year.

An official with Shandong Luneng expressed their respect for the CFA's review, saying: "We will do our job as usual, and we call on all fans show respect to the referee."

The independent review team was formed by a group of FIFA and AFC referee instructors and elite referees. Upon completion, they will submit a review summary to the referee department of CFA, who will decide what to do if refereeing mistakes were found.

The Chinese Football Association announced in February that the CFA set up its own professional referee team including both domestic and overseas distinguished football referees. Ma Ning, Fu Ming, Zhang Lei and two foreign referees Mark Clattenburg and Milorad Mazic became the first professional referees in the CFA.

Chen Yongliang, director of the CFA Super League, said that introducing the professional referee system will promote the comprehensive development of Chinese football referees, and that the levels and standards of referees will be improved to ensure all football leagues in China play a fair and impartial game.

Four male referees officiated the Asian Cup earlier this year. Chinese trio Qin Liang and her assistant referees Cui Yong Mei and Fang Yan will officiate their second FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

The CFA will continue to send referees to UEFA to take courses on refereeing, and bring in foreign referees in domestic leagues to provide learning opportunities for Chinese referees.