Australia fuming after pitch brawl mars women's U19 championship

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Story from the Guardian

Australia fuming after pitch brawl mars women's U19 championship

• Australia denied penalty and have centre-back sent off
• Matildas' coach labels fracas in Wuhan 'embarrassing'

The Asian Women's Under-19 Championship witnessed shocking scenes in Wuhan tonight as the Australia team were pelted with bottles by a highly charged crowd following a mass brawl at the end of China's match against the Young Matildas.

China won the Group B encounter 2–1 to secure a place in the semi-finals of the competition but had their backs to the wall as the Australians pushed for an equaliser. Australia were also denied a penalty when Kyah Simon was brought down two yards inside the area and a free-kick outside was awarded. To compound their frustration, the centre-back Jessica Seaman was sent off on the stroke of full-time.

However, following the final whistle, an Australia player fell to the ground while remonstrating with the Chinese, prompting the captain, Tameka Butt, to charge across the pitch and grab the perceived offender. That sparked a mass brawl as both sets of players and backroom staff charged on to the pitch, with punches thrown.

Once order was restored, plastic water bottles were thrown from the crowd in the direction of the Australian team – whose ages range from 15 to 19 – as they made their way down the tunnel with police imploring fans to stop.

Nobody was seriously injured but the Australia coach, Alen Stajcic, was furious with what happened. "We've prepared for 12 months, to have an embarrassing sporting event take place like that in China. That's not sport," he said.

"Sport is played by two equal teams battling for sporting supremacy, not that kind of behaviour. On the field, off the field, it's not good enough. I'd be embarrassed if I were the host of this event after that game. You all saw what happened out there, it's embarrassing."

Gee whizz, and I thought the Central Coast - Tianjin ACL match was a joke. I'm really starting to dislike Chinese football. The crowd pelting 15 year old girls with bottles is a disgrace. Not to mention the awful on field antics that we have come to expect from Chinese teams.

They need more guys like Shenqing Qu involved in the game, a true gentleman and professional.