A recent AFC Champions League group stage encounter was marred by significant on-field violence and fan unrest. The match between China’s Beijing Guoan and Vietnam’s Cong An Ha Noi, played on September 18th, escalated into a chaotic scene involving player confrontations and objects being thrown from the stands.
The contentious incident unfolded in the 80th minute of the Group E fixture at Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium. A heated clash initially occurred between Cong An Ha Noi’s Rogerio Alves and a defender from the Beijing Guoan home team. While Yupeng, a Beijing Guoan defender, was reportedly receiving treatment for an injury at the time, the situation quickly spiraled as other players from both sides became involved, transforming the initial challenge into a full-scale altercation across the pitch.
Adding to the disorder, the agitated home crowd began to hurl various objects onto the field, including plastic water bottles. These projectiles unfortunately struck members of the visiting team’s medical staff and a Vietnamese midfielder, exacerbating the already tense atmosphere. While live television broadcasts of the match did not fully capture the extent of the fighting, images and videos of the incident swiftly circulated on prominent Chinese social media platforms, including Weibo, Sina, and 163.
Crucially, the match was conducted without the aid of the Video Assisted Referee (VAR) system, which could have offered additional clarity for the officials. Thai referee Wiwat Jumpaoon ultimately issued red cards to players from both teams in an attempt to regain control of the game. Following these regrettable events, it is anticipated that both participating clubs, along with the stadium organizers, will face disciplinary action and potential sanctions from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) due to the player violence and the dangerous behavior of fans.
Despite the tumultuous circumstances, the match concluded with a 2-2 draw, meaning Beijing Guoan and Cong An Ha Noi each secured one point. In the current Group E standings, Beijing Guoan occupies the second position, while Cong An Ha Noi is placed third. Elsewhere in the group, Hong Kong’s Tai Po FC sits atop the table after achieving a 1-0 victory over Australia’s MacArthur FC.
