Guoan to discipline Scottish defender

By Yao Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-07 08:00

Maurice Ross, a player with the Beijing Guoan Football Club, is facing punishment from his team after a physical altercation with a motorist earlier this week in Sanlitun, according to reports.

Guoan officials refused to respond to the incident, and would not talk about possible repercussions for the Scottish right defender, after METRO met the team's request for a faxed list of questions.

Ross was apparently walking with his girlfriend near Sanlitun Bar Street about 10:30 pm on Monday, when a Cadillac suddenly stopped in traffic to their right.

Ross, angered by the continual honking of a Cadillac, approached the car in swift strides, the driver, surnamed Gu, told METRO on Thursday.

Ross allegedly pointed his finger at Gu, yelling at him in English, and kicked the car door, Gu said.

Gu exited the car and began quarreling with Ross. The dispute quickly escalated into a physical conflict.

"After saying a few words, he punched me several times, which was baffling," said Gu, who noted he was not seriously injured and did not seek medical treatment.

Gu said his mobile phone was damaged after it dropped to the ground and his vehicle's door was dented.

Sanlitun police officers took both men into custody after they refused to calm down, authorities said.

The pair reached an indemnity agreement in which Ross paid Gu 30,000 yuan in compensation.

But Gu said he still wants an apology, which has not yet been made.

Ross is reported to have said the blaring horn scared his girlfriend and that the quarrel involved mutual shoving. He denied assaulting Gu.

Beijing Times quoted Guoan assistant coach Lu Jun as saying that Ross had drunk a small amount of alcohol before the conflict. Public figures should not quarrel with others and, according to Guoan policy, Ross will be punished by the team, the newspaper quoted Lu as saying.

Some local fans agreed that players should follow a higher code of conduct.

"In my opinion, the club should have better management of foreign players," Yang Wei, a 24-year-old fan of the team, said.

"It needs to improve its measures when an incident happens. In addition, there may be a cultural difference; frequent honking is regarded as impolite by foreigners."

China Daily

(China Daily 05/07/2010 page25)