Shanghai Shenhua fans suspended after harassing child in rival jersey

The familiar drumbeats and chants may be absent from the stands when Shanghai Shenhua face Shandong Taishan next week, after several diehard fan groups announced a suspension of cheering activities.

The child was targeted for wearing a national team No 7 jersey belonging to Wu Lei, the star forward of crosstown rivals Shanghai Port.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at Shanghai Stadium, where Shenhua suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Beijing Guoan in a rescheduled Chinese Super League match.

Police reported that as crowds were exiting near Escalator No 2, the three male spectators – aged 36, 41 and 51 – spotted the boy wearing non-home-team apparel and began berating his father “to vent their frustration”, creating a “severe negative social impact”.

All three men were detained for picking quarrels and provoking trouble. Police urged supporters to spectate civilly and express emotions rationally, warning that offences disrupting public order would be strictly punished.