When the horn of the new season sounds, anticipation and passion coexist, but for those players who are reckless on the green field, the harsh ruling of the Chinese Super League is like an invisible deterrent force, always reminding them that everyone is equal before the rules. This year, the Football Association has been more resolute than ever, and they have proved to everyone with their actions that this is no longer an empty phrase that is on the lips every year. And in this context, a person's name quickly became the center of the topic - Wang Shangyuan. Wang Shangyuan, a former member of the Guangzhou team, has now become the core player of Henan Songshan Longmen, and he is the captain in hand, which should be the team's example. However, in a contest with Shandong Taishan, one of his gaffes made him the target of public criticism.
That scene happened in broad daylight, and Wang Shangyuan suddenly threw a fist without warning, hitting Guo Tianyu in the face hard. This behavior shocked everyone present not only because of its vile level, but also because the referee was nearby, and his behavior was undoubtedly a blatant provocation to the authority of the referee. "No toleration!" was the common voice of Shandong fans, who expressed their extreme disgust at the act in angry words. There are even voices that Wang Shangyuan should be permanently expelled, and there should be no place for him even in the amateur arena. However, when the punishment was announced — Wang was suspended for three games and fined 30,000 yuan — many felt that the punishment was too light and not enough to serve as a warning to other players. At this point, does punishment equate to no punishment?
There are different voices in the hearts of the fans. Not only that, but at the same time, another piece of news also attracted attention. The Guangzhou team was criticized for failing to leave the lounge and enter the venue at the specified time. Although this matter does not seem to be serious, it reflects the great importance that the Football Association attaches to discipline. No one is an exception to the rules, no matter how glorious your history is, no matter who you are. Huang Qiang talked about sports crookedly, and in his unique style, he had an in-depth discussion of this incident. The Football Association has banned any cross-border behavior at the beginning of the league, and it has shown its determination not to tolerate it. Although the punishment for Wang Shangyuan's incident has been set, whether it is sufficient remains to be further tested by the market.
What remains to be decided is whether the handling of such egregious behaviour is sufficient to serve as a warning to other players. The voices of Shandong fans are understandably angry, but how will the Football Association's final decision balance the delicate relationship between fairness and incentives? In this battle between discipline and the rule of law on the field, how should the punishment be set in order to maintain the fairness of the game without losing respect for the player's career? This is the doubt in the minds of all Chinese football fans, and it is also a question that the Football Association needs to seriously think about in the next step.
Because, how to maintain the purity and fairness of the game through the rules is not only related to the reputation of the league, but also related to the emotions and trust of countless fans. In this process, the severity of each penalty may become a footnote on the road of Chinese football reform.