Commentator earns red card

From: The Australian
June 30, 2006

A CHINESE commentator who raucously abused Australia during the World Cup game against Italy, astounding 150 million viewers, has been suspended from China Central TV's broadcast team in Germany.

Huang Jianxiang, known as "Endless Talker", has thus at last been silenced.

The Australian embassy has been bombarded with calls from Australians working in soccer-mad China urging diplomatic action.

Ambassador Alan Thomas briefed John Howard, during his visit to Shenzhen in southern China, on the controversy.

Huang, aged 38, ranted when the last-minute penalty was awarded to Italy: "Long live Italy! Don't give Australia any chance!"

During the game, he had told his viewers: "I don't care about the Australian team, and I don't want to see Australia get good results in the World Cup."

Huang later said: "I was hoping the Australians would do badly here (in Germany). I don't like Australians."

He explained, while offering a partial apology, that this was because Australia has joined the Asian Football Confederation, and will thus contest for the Asian places in World Cup finals.

Huang said it reminded him of 1981, when New Zealand knocked China out of playing in the finals in Spain.

Huang's outburst has caused waves of reaction from enraged Chinese viewers, many of whom applauded wildly when Australia beat Japan, China's former foe, in its first game. Websites have been clogged with criticisms of Huang.

The CCTV management has responded by suspending Huang from commentating on the next four World Cup games, and by showing repeated highlights of Australia's best moves in the Italy game, with a voiceover that says: "They left as heroes."

Huang's commentary was replaced in the station's replay of the game.

The Yangcheng Evening News in Guangzhou said: "If ordinary football fans behaved like Huang, it would be called hooliganism. He violated the spirit of sport, and behaved like a football fascist."

News Limited

lol, I`d not heard about this happening. :lol: