In a fierce encounter in the 18th round of the Chinese Super League, Shanghai Port narrowly defeated Henan Jiuzu Dukang with a score of 1-0 away from home, achieving an impressive 11 consecutive wins. Despite the heavy rain, the Shanghai Port team, which was playing away, still showed strong strength and perseverance, and successfully took away three points in the "Devil's Home". However, this game caused widespread controversy because of the referee's decision, which pushed the Shanghai Port team to the forefront again.
In the 12th minute of the first half, there was controversy for the first time on the field. When Henan team's foreign player Denich rushed forward with the ball, he was intercepted by a side tackle by SIPG defender Li Shuai. However, the action did not actually touch the ball or Denich's body, but was unexpectedly rewarded with a yellow card from the referee. The decision was confusing for the SIPG players, as it was more of a defensive move that tried to intercept than a serious foul that required a yellow card.
The referee's strict enforcement style seemed to set the tone for the whole game, but the players didn't seem to have adapted quickly to the change. At the end of the first half, controversy broke out again on the field. Wu Lei got a single chance in the penalty area, but was knocked to the ground by Henan goalkeeper Wang Guoming. The referee decisively awarded a penalty, but this decision immediately caused strong dissatisfaction on the part of the Henan team. They believe that Wu Lei is suspected of faking a fall, and the penalty is not fair.
After the game, this penalty became the focus of public opinion. Whether the Henan Jiuzu Dukang team will appeal to the Football Association, and how the Football Association will deal with this controversy, has become a hot topic of discussion among fans and the media. There are concerns that the Football Association may take an ambiguous approach to similar controversies and even rely on evidence from "other sources" to make a decision, further undermining the fairness and credibility of the league.
In general, this game not only tested the technical and tactical level and psychological quality of the players, but also once again pushed the referee's ability to judge penalties and the management level of the league to the forefront. In order to enhance the overall competitiveness and international influence of the Chinese Super League, all parties need to work together to create a more fair, transparent and standardized competition environment.