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The Tianjin Football Association announced in a statement on Sunday that the football fan surnamed Jiang, who led the verbal abuse against Chengdu player Wei Shihao during a Chinese Super League (CSL) match in Tianjin on Friday, has been put under a seven-day detention by the Tianjin police and banned from attending future matches.

During the CSL match between Tianjin Jinmen Tiger and Chengdu Rongcheng on Friday, a group of Tianjin fans shouted offensive remarks at Chengdu player Wei using a loudspeaker. Wei, visibly agitated, responded from the pitch and was issued a yellow card for dissent. Minutes later, he received a second yellow card and was sent off.

The Tianjin Football Association statement, co-signed with the local public security bureau, condemned the incident for violating the spirit of sportsmanship and public decency, stressing that such behavior causes serious negative impact. Jiang was found to have initiated the insults from the stands during the match, and authorities vowed to maintain strict discipline to ensure a respectful viewing environment.

In the early hours of Sunday, the Chinese Professional Football League (CFL) denounced abuse by fans directed at players and their families during CSL matches in a statement.

According to the statement, certain spectators insulted professional footballers and their relatives during recent matches, acts that "gravely tarnish the spirit of football, disrupt league order, and cause significant harm to the social fabric." The CFL, an independent federation aimed at operating all levels of China's professional football leagues, stressed that such behavior is a blatant affront to the sport's values and completely deviates from the essence of football culture. It expressed firm opposition and unequivocal condemnation of the incidents.

Chengdu Rongcheng reposted the statement on its official social media account, writing, "Any insults or abusive language directed at players or their families are a desecration of the spirit of football and completely deviate from the essence of football culture. Chengdu Rongcheng firmly opposes and strongly condemns such behavior."

Abusive behavior and other types of misconduct are not uncommon on the football field, as seen in recent CSL matches. This is also not the first time Wei was involved in a confrontation with opposing fans. On April 6, 2024, he provoked unruly Tianjin fans by gesturing for them to "be louder" in a CSL match in Tianjin, then raised his fingers to signal "1-0," indicating Chengdu was in the lead over the opposing Tianjin team.

Wang Dazhao, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times that the CFL's statement, though not directly pointing to a single event, "sends a clear signal by addressing a broader issue." "This is not just the CFL's responsibility - it requires the collective protection of the environment, including the fans themselves."

Wang added that while players should be punished for behavior that violates the rules, such as Wei's two yellow cards, fans repeatedly insulting players and their families through megaphones points to deeper issues in fan conduct and matchday management. "Personal attacks are now frequently seen both on and off the field, and they erode the trust between athletes and fans, ultimately damaging the entire sporting environment."

"In this case, the stadium rules had already been clearly stated during ticketing. So why was a fan allowed to enter with an electronic loudspeaker and continue shouting abuse without being stopped or removed?" Wang questioned. "It's not a one-sided issue - besides issuing a statement, there should also be stricter punitive measures to serve as a warning to others and improve fan behavior to resolve this."

The CFL warned that the spread of such toxic behavior poses a direct threat to the healthy development of the league and undermines the interests of both football professionals and fans. It pledged to work with relevant authorities to crack down on all forms of provocation, insults, slander, incitement, and violence - both on and off the pitch.

Measures will also be taken to protect spectators' right to enjoy matches in a civil and respectful environment, the statement said, while upholding the core values of fair play, mutual respect, and the integrity of sports.

"Football," the league reiterated, "is a sport that embodies unity and passion - not a platform for violence or hate." The league vowed to ensure a matchday atmosphere that is "fair, safe, clean, stable, and orderly," and emphasized zero tolerance for any behavior that disrupts this goal.

The CFL concluded by calling on all stakeholders - players, officials, and supporters - to safeguard the integrity of the game, reject toxic behavior, and approach football with respect and rationality. Additional measures and policies, it said, will be rolled out to further promote discipline and civility across the league.