The Chinese Football Association (CFA) suspended Xiamen Lanshi
defender Gabriel Melkam for three matches and fined him 5,000 yuan
(US$650) for wearing a vest emblazoned with "Chinese umpires are
all fakes".
On Sunday, the Nigerian import stripped off his team uniform
after a 0-0 draw against Chinese Super League (CSL) side Henan
Jianye, revealing the undershirt to journalists before a post-match
press conference, local media reports said.
"Xiamen No. 4 Melkam displayed serious unsportsmanlike behavior,
which harmed the league and brought a negative influence to bear on
society," the association said in a statement on its Web site.
Local media said Melkam's act was in response to a referee
blunder in the previous round that caused Xiamen to lose 1-0 to
Shanghai Shenhua.
An injury-time goal was awarded to Shenhua striker Sergio
Blanco, who League officials later conceded was off-side.
Melkam's punishment was light as he had admitted his mistake and
apologized to officials, the reports said.
"Our punishments are not particular, they are for the education
of all players," CSL director Ma Chengquan said.
(China Daily via Reuters April 28, 2007)