'Gangster' Mao booted out of national team

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By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-04 09:48

Shanghai Shenhua player Mao Jianqing has been kicked out of the national team's training camp after he was charged with assault for a violent episode at a Shanghai restaurant and placed in custody for a week.

"The national team will not admit any one who acts like a gangster," an unidentified official from the Chinese Football Association (CFA) was quoted as saying by Titan Sports.

"Mao has good technique and moves on the field, and the national team coaches had high hopes of him, but with this scandalous behavior he has ruined his future international career," the official added, without clarifying whether Mao could be readmitted to the team at a later date.

Mao, a lynchpin on the left wing for both club and country, was commiserating Shenhua's title-race loss to Chinese Super League rivals Shandong Luneng when the brouhaha broke out in the early hours of Monday morning.

A man, identified as Xu, at a nearby table greeted one of Mao's female companions claiming to be a former colleague of hers when hostilities flared. Witnesses reported that Xu was verbally and physically assaulted by Mao and his companions, teammate Liu Yintao and former CBA basketball player Xu Yong, who sent plates and ashtrays flying in his direction, causing him to sustain cuts and bruises to his face and chest.

Police charged the three athletes with assault and fined them 500 yuan each. Mao and Liu were put into custody for seven days while Xu Yong escaped detention on the grounds of poor health.

According to the victim's mother, other Shenhua players and international striker Gao Lin were involved in the attack but were not prosecuted.

"My son told me that everyone from Mao's side assaulted him and his two female friends," she told the Oriental Sports Daily. "My son is a soccer fan and he knows their faces. I do not think he made a mistake (regarding their identity)."

Financial straits

Reports said Mao was forced to accept the custodial punishment as he could not afford to meet the victim's compensation request and therefore obviate the need for police action.

Xu had originally demanded 2 million yuan ($290,000) but later negotiated down to a more reasonable 100,000 yuan - which Mao declined to pay.

Compared to most of his teammates, who drive luxurious vehicles and seem flush with disposable income, Mao claims to be in financial straits. He does not own a car and spends most of his income on his mother, who has been struggling with cancer for years.

Shenhua coach Wu Jingui confirmed the family's economic problems.

"I know he has some difficulties due to his mother's illness. So the team would always give him a bigger bonus after competitions," said Wu.

Giving some comfort to Mao and his mother, Shenhua said it will allow the 24-year-old player another chance to redeem himself.

"After he is released from custody, we will educate him and impose a punishment," said Zhang Defa, the club's general councilor.

"We hope it's a good lesson to him and we will give him one more chance."