Hockey fans call for China’s disqualification after brawl with Belgium
China faces backlash after brawl with Belgium in Olympic hockey semi-final
Hockey enthusiasts are demanding the disqualification of the Chinese Olympic team following a brawl with Belgium.bDrama is often expected at the Olympics, but few anticipated the events that unfolded at the end of the Women’s Field Hockey semi-final today, 8 August.
A fierce clash erupted between Belgium and China, leading to players from both benches storming the field to intervene. Footage of the incident has spread on social media, prompting calls for the disqualification of the Chinese team.
As the game ended, tied at 1-1, Chinese player Fan Yunxia’s actions sparked outrage. Yunxia struck the ball at Delphine-Dapne Marien from close range, causing the Belgian player to collapse in pain. Belgian teammates confronted Yunxia, with Judith Vandermeirin pushing her away and receiving a yellow card and a 10-minute suspension in the process.
Penalty shootout!
Chinese women's hockey beat Belgium 3-2 to advance to the finals.Congratulations!#parisolympics2024 #china #Hockey #belgian pic.twitter.com/F63VzxtXOd
— 🇨🇳Black cat video (@heimaobanyun1) August 8, 2024
Vandermeirin continued to argue with officials, captured on video saying, “I’m protecting my teammate. You cannot do that.”
Eurosport commentator Charlie Brougham criticised Yunxia’s action, noting, “Well, that’s a little unnecessary from Fan. She just hammered the ball as the hooter sounded and hit one of the Belgian players.”
Despite the conflict, the match proceeded to penalties, where China emerged victorious.This outcome angered many viewers on social media.
“If it’s a yellow for a push fair enough. But how is it not a red for deliberately hitting another player after the final whistle? Straight as a roundabout,” one commented on china hockey.
“Absolutely disgraceful from the Chinese hockey player and from the referee. Issuing a yellow card to the Belgian No.7 at all is mental, but issuing it first like this is shocking!” another added.
A third person said, “The Chinese player took a look before hitting it. That was seriously foul play. It’s a red card.”
“How is that not a red card battering the ball at someone is surely more serious than a little push,” another remarked. “China had to be disqualified for this!”
Currently, China is set to face the Netherlands in the Gold Medal Match on the evening of 9 August.
In another event, a 21-year-old French pole vaulter failed to clear 5.70 metres on 3 August when his knee and private parts got in the way, shattering his Olympic dreams.
Turkey’s Yusuf Dikec appeared relaxed with one hand in his pocket and no shooting gear, yet he secured a silver medal alongside his partner Sevval Ilayda Tarhan.
Noah Lyles set a new personal best, winning by a margin of 0.005 seconds with a time of 9.784 in the fastest race ever, where all athletes finished under 10 seconds.
Chaos ensued as five athletes, including Team GB’s George Mills and French runner Hugo Hay, fell on the track after an incident. Mills had harsh words for Hay post-tumble.
Snoop made headlines by attending the dressage team Grand Prix Special in full dressage attire with Martha Stewart.
Ana Carolina Vieira was sent home after she and her boyfriend, Gabriel Santos, left the village without permission, breaching Olympic Village rules.
Coxswain Henry Fieldman made history by winning bronze in the women’s crews event after his bronze win in Tokyo with the men’s team, thanks to a 2017 rule change allowing coxes of either gender to steer the eights.
Canadian Tyler Mislawchuk vomited after swimming in a polluted river, while Belgian triathlete Jolien Vermeylen reported feeling unwell.
Team USA star performed leisurely in the Men’s 110m hurdles heat, finishing last with a time of 18.27 seconds to avoid aggravating a sore muscle, knowing he had another chance due to repechage rounds.
The Paris La Défense Arena’s pool depth of 2.15 metres, short of the 2.5 metres recommended by World Aquatics, caused backlash from viewers due to ‘slow’ swimming issues.
Algerian boxer faced Italy’s Angela Carini on 1 August but Carini abandoned the match after 46 seconds and apologised. Khelif, embroiled in a gender row, urged against athlete bullying.
Paraguayan swimmer was asked to leave the village over accusations of creating an ‘inappropriate environment’. Alonso, who retired, denied the claims and urged against spreading false information.
Gold medalist in men’s 100m backstroke, Ceccon was seen napping outside, struggling to sleep in the Olympic Village due to heat and noise.
Convicted child rapist Van de Velde was booed during the beach volleyball men’s tournament. In 2016, Van de Velde was sentenced to four years for raping a 12-year-old girl in 2014, sparking outrage over his Olympic participation.
