China

Referee's bad call dashes China's Olympic dreams

By Liu Shanshan (chinadaily.com.cn/Agencies)
Updated: 2011-06-24 11:33

Lei Tenglong(C) of China fights for the ball with Amer Said Fatah Al-Shatari of Oman during the Asian qualifier for the 2012 London Olympic football match in Muscat, the capital of Oman, June 23, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

Wang Dalei, goalie of China, reacts after the Asian qualifier for the 2012 London Olympic football match against Oman in Muscat, June 23, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese football's Olympic dream ended on a sour note as Iranian referee Mohsen Torki blew off Lei Tenglong's last-minute goal at the 2012 London Olympic Asian qualifying game in Oman Thursday night.

China's players and coach Miroslav Blazevic protested vehemently, but the referee stuck by his decision, sending off Blazevic and one of his coaching staff in the process.

The refereeing call led to the tiny Gulf state of Oman's 3-1 success over a 10-man China team with three goals in extra time, advancing 4-1 on aggregate.

China midfielder Wu Xi struck in the 69th minute, but then substitute midfielder Cao Yunding was sent off for a tackle on Amer al-Shatri. Despite being a man down, China rallied and created a host of chances but was unable to convert.

Oman took advantage, scoring three times in extra time - including a brace from midfielder Hussain al-Hadri, who also scored the lone in the first leg.

Special treatment

The Chinese team was also treated badly outside the playing field in Muscat, said sports.sina.com.cn.

The shuttle bus transporting Chinese players to the stadium had a broken air-conditioner, said the Chinese team manager. Even worse, the bus driver started the heating system under the capital's hot weather of above 40 degrees Celsius.

The Chinese team was again troubled by the game's insufficient management when players were given the wrong key for their locker room and only got the real key after 20 minutes of negotiation.