In this Sunday, June 18, 2017 photo, Shanghai SIPG players, red jersey, and Guangzhou R&F players, blue jersey, tussle after Shanghai's Oscar was tackled on the ground, during their Chinese Super League match in Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong province. Former Chelsea player Oscar sparked a bench-clearing tussle in the Chinese Super League game between Shanghai SIPG and Guangzhou R&F on Sunday after twice kicking the ball into players at close range. (Color China Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
GUANGZHOU, China (AP) - Former Chelsea player Oscar sparked a bench-clearing tussle in a Chinese Super League game between Shanghai SIPG and Guangzhou R&F on Sunday after twice kicking the ball into players at close range.
China's Xinhua news agency reported the Brazilian playmaker, who signed a lucrative deal to join Shanghai SIPG last December, kicked the ball into an R&F player in the last minute of the first half, then kicked the rebound into another opposing player.
Oscar was subsequently pushed to the ground by R&F's Chen Zhizhao, sparking a tussle that brought all 22 players plus substitutes and officials onto the field. One player from each team was shown a red card and the match continued after the halftime break, finishing in a 1-1 draw.
Video of the tussle spread quickly in mainstream and social media.
In this Sunday, June 18, 2017 photo, Shanghai SIPG players, red jersey, and Guangzhou R&F players, blue jersey, tussle after Shanghai's Oscar was tackled on the ground, during their Chinese Super League match in Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong province. Former Chelsea player Oscar sparked a bench-clearing tussle in the Chinese Super League game between Shanghai SIPG and Guangzhou R&F on Sunday after twice kicking the ball into players at close range. (Color China Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
In this Sunday, June 18, 2017 photo, Guangzhou R&F players in blue jersey surround Shanghai SIPG player Oscar on the ground after being tackled during their Chinese Super League match in Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong province. Former Chelsea player Oscar sparked a bench-clearing tussle in the Chinese Super League game between Shanghai SIPG and Guangzhou R&F on Sunday after twice kicking the ball into players at close range. (Color China Photo via AP)
The Associated Press