Brazilian CSL Player Fined For 'Disrespecting' China's Anthem
By Bryan Grogan
Brazilian Shandong Luneng footballer Diego Tardelli was recently fined for rubbing his face as the Chinese national anthem played before his team's match against Shanghai SIPG, according to SupChina.
In images of the incident you can see Tardelli first place a hand on his cheek, before rubbing his chin.
Though some viewers felt that the gesture was harmless, the CFA felt otherwise and suspended the Brazilian footballer for his club’s next game against Changcun Yatai FC, as well as slapping him with a RMB40,000 fine.
Shandong Luneng went on to lose the game 4-2, with Tardelli gaining a yellow card before being substituted.
Luneng currently sit in third place in the league, just two points ahead of Beijing Guo'an with three games left of the regular season. They seek qualification for the playoff stages of the Asian Champions League for next season, after failing to make the cut in the past two seasons.
It is unlikely that the fine will cause undue harm to Tardelli's finances. What is clear, however, is that the Chinese government are strictly cracking down on any perceived disrespect shown during the nation’s anthem, which is called ‘March of the Volunteers.’
Last week, we reported on a livestreamer, surnamed Wang, who has been detained for 15 days after performing ‘March of the Volunteers’ in a disrespectful manner during an online broadcast. Wang’s case comes shortly after Internet celebrity Yang Kaili was given five days detention for singing a segment of the anthem in a mocking manner during a livestream on October 7.
[Cover image via Screengrab via G1 - O Portal de Notícias da Globo/Youtube]
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