Tianjin fans banned from stadium
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E-mail China Daily, May 15, 2012
Home fans will not get the opportunity to cheer for Chinese club Tianjin Teda in its last AFC Champions League match this season on Tuesday as the Chinese side has been punished by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after two disorderly home games.
Tianjin was sanctioned after local fans used laser pointers to disrupt the games and also threw plastic bottles and other refuse onto the field during matches against Australian side Central Coast Mariners and Japanese team Nagoya Grampus.
Tianjin was fined $7,500 and told to play its last Group G game against South Korean side Seongnam without spectators by the AFC disciplinary committee.
Teda defender Li Weifeng has appealed to fans to control their actions in the future to avoid similar problems.
"Maybe the fans are dissatisfied with some of the referee's decisions, but there is no need to express it in that way," said the 33-year-old. "The harshest punishment is not paying the fines, but to play in an empty stadium and take away the fans from watching the game. Our fans should take a look at themselves."
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