Hulk in hot water as Shanghai saga stirs up emotions

SHANGHAI - Hulk was hauled before the Chinese Football Association (CFA) on Wednesday as the fallout from an eight-match ban handed to Shanghai SIPG teammate Oscar rumbles on.

SIPG manager Andre Villas-Boas traveled with the Brazilian striker to CFA headquarters in Beijing and another Shanghai player, Wu Lei, was also present, a club representative told AFP.

Hulk, who has scored nine goals in the Chinese Super League this season, and China international Wu wore T-shirts in support of the banned Oscar after SIPG beat Henan Jianye 4-1 last weekend.

SIPG declined to give further details, and said only that the CFA hearing was "related" to the T-shirts.

Hulk's shirt had 'Nothing to do, nothing to say' written on it - the same phrase that adorned a vest worn by Oscar and which has become a rallying cry for SIPG fans angry at the CFA.

It is the second time in as many months that the 30-year-old Hulk has gone before Chinese soccer chiefs - last month he was accused of punching the assistant coach of another club.

Hulk denied the allegation and no further action was taken against the burly former Zenit St Petersburg and Porto attacker.

Brazil's Oscar, an Asian-record $68 million signing from Chelsea, was the latest big-name foreign import to hit trouble in China when he was slapped with the lengthy suspension last week for triggering a mass brawl during a 1-1 draw with Guangzhou R&F earlier this month.

SIPG, second in the standings, this week warned fans to cool it following protests at Sunday's home game over Oscar's punishment.

The CFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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