Rongda reverses decision to quit

An uproar triggered by a team in China's second-tier soccer league has taken a bizarre twist after the club reversed its decision to withdraw from the circuit to protest officiating.

Baoding Rongda FC, the bottom club in the 16-member Chinese League One, announced in a statement released on Monday that it will remain in the league and will accept any potential punishment from the Chinese Football Association for deciding to quit after a 2-2 draw with Wuhan Zall on Saturday.

Citing a referee's call to award Zall a tying penalty during seven minutes of added time, Rongda chairman Meng Yongli fired the referee at the post-match media conference and hours later announced the club was withdrawing from the league.