China condemns 'foot-brawl' match

CNN Website:- http://www.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football/02/09/china.brawl/index.html

In a football match that was suppose to be a friendly, players from the Chinese Olympic team decided to give up their day jobs and engaged in a brawl with players from English side Queens Park Rangers. Even officials from the Chinese team got in the act and it all ended with one Chinese player knocked out cold.

Even though the Chinese are renowned all over the world for their pugilistic skills, I feel there was hardly any reason for them to exhibit their martial art abilities in a middle of a friendly football game. By being an athlete, one has to abide with the rules of the game and under no circumstances behave in any manner that would bring the game into disrepute. However, these Chinese football players, I mean thugs, certainly felt that they had to make a point using violence.

It is needless to say that athletes are very often looked upon as role models, and for a developing country such as China, one that is predicted to become a world leader soon, it is imperative that athletes set a good example for the youths of the nation, who might become future leaders. There is no doubt that competitiveness and a fierce desire for success makes a good team, however it must be balanced with a healthy dose of sportsmanship and the ability to be graceful in the face of defeat.With the next Olympic Games looming, China now has to face a new evil aside from the disgraceful pollution the country is shrouded in. Let's hope that this evil will not rear it's ugly head every again.