Shandong final-whistle fracas mars celebrations

Shanghai (AFP) – Italy striker Graziano Pelle’s Shandong Luneng were involved in a post-match fracas Sunday as security guards tried to prevent them celebrating victory with their fans.

The rumpus came at the end of Shandong Luneng’s 2-1 victory against Beijing Guoan in the Chinese Super League at Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium.

The final whistle prompted bizarre scenes as Shandong’s Chinese international goalkeeper Wang Dalei jumped over advertising hoardings and clashed repeatedly with several security officers as he tried to celebrate in front of his team’s fans.

Three other players were seen to get involved in scuffles before the security personnel relented allowing Pelle and other team-mates to arrive and join in the celebrations before quickly ushering the Shandong players to the tunnel.

Former Southampton front man Pelle, who joined Shandong in July, had put his side ahead after just 12 minutes.

Chinese international striker Yu Dabao equalised on 34 minutes in front of more than 38,000 fans only for Shandong’s Argentine midfielder Walter Montillo to seal victory for the visitors 16 minutes from time with a penalty.

The Chinese FA have not commented on the incident.

The rumpus provoked much ire on Chinese social media, with one Twitter-like Weibo user, Asaikana, commenting: “I think Wang Dalei was quite restrained… there was absolutely no safety issue at any time, why did they try to block the players?”

Elsewhere, Luiz Felipe Scolari resumed his old rivalry with Sven-Goran Eriksson as Guangzhou Evergrande drew 0-0 with Shanghai SIPG.

The draw, combined with Jiangsu Suning’s shock 3-0 loss away to lowly Hangzhou, means Evergrande could lift their sixth consecutive Chinese league crown if they win their next match and second-placed Suning lose again.

Ex-Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is still seeking his first victory as boss of Hebei CFFC after his side drew 1-1 with Chongqing Lifan.