Taian, Shandong, October 18th (Special Correspondent Zhang Lei) - The National Games competition transcends the level of sportsmanship. Yesterday, the third round of the men's football Group A preliminary competition concluded, with Beijing defeating Tianjin 3-1 to secure the top spot in the group. The losing Tianjin team not only had three players sent off during the match, but almost all the players participated in chasing and attacking the main referee after the game. Substitute player No. 12 Zhao Shitong chased the on-duty referee He Zhibiao for nearly 100 meters, tackled him, and punched him several times while his face was on the ground, sparking an intense conflict.
If the chase and attack after the game were considered a "grand feast," then the shoving action when No. 14 Liu Qing was shown a red card by He Zhibiao at the 90th minute of the match would be the "appetizer." Prior to this, Tianjin's No. 9 Liang Jie and No. 10 Ma Leilei had already been sent off. When Liang Jie was penalized for intentional stepping, Tianjin goalkeeper Li Gen ran to the scene near the center circle, questioning the referee and shouting: "We won't play, we won't play." The players followed Li Gen off the field. It was only under the persuasion of head coach Sun Jianjun that the players returned to continue the game.