体坛英语新闻：CFA issues 7-month ban for punched Brazilian coach Cuca

BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Shandong Luneng's Brazilian coach Cuca got a ban off the pitch for seven months starting from June 6, and was fined 140,000 RMB (about 22, 500 U.S. dollars).

"Cuca was pulling and shouting at the linesman on and off the pitch, and took part in the attacking of the linesman in the player lanes, which left a very bad impression," said Chinese Football Association (CFA) in a punishment decision on Friday afternoon.

The linesman Zhan Wei, punching Cuca on his face, was also banned from refereeing for 12 months.

The punishment decision came from a clash between Luneng's coach Cuca and the linesman Zhan Wei after a Chinese Super League match between league leader Luneng and Guizhou Renhe on June 4.

According to the match video, Luneng had a 69th-minute goal disallowed for offside, when the score tied at 2-2. Han Peng of Luneng talked to the linesman to win back the goal, but the referee gave Han Peng a yellow card.

When the match ended 2-2, Luneng coach and players considered the disputed disallowed goal and the linesman to blame. Some Luneng players tried to explain with the linesman. Luneng's captain Hao Junmin then received his second booking, which aroused ensuing protests.

As coach Cuca voiced his opinion to the linesman after the match, a shocking scene occurred: the linesman Zhan punched him, leaving the coach with a deep cut besides his left eye.

"Cuca has a deep wound more than two and a half centimetres beside his left eyebrow," said an official with Luneng club afterwards.

Afterwards, Cuca was sent to the hospital for his wound next to his left eyebrow. Zhan Wei was surrounded by Luneng players and kneed down on the pitch for a while before they were splited by guards.

"It was for the first time in my 23-year playing career that I saw a referee beating club coach on the pitch," said 28-year-old Luneng player Zhao Mingjian on a twitter-like Weibo in China.

Some Luneng players forwarded a photo with Cuca's wounded face, writing that it was a criminal act.

"It is clear that Cuca was beaten to bleeding," the club said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Cuca's yound brother Stival was for 9 months and fined 180,000 RMB (about 28,800 dollars). Luneng player Li Songyi and Shao Puliang was alsp banned and fined for orally abusing and attacking the linesman. An official from Luneng called Wang Liancheng was also banned for eight matches due to attacking the linesman.

Shandong Luneng are topping the league table with 26 points after 13 rounds of the new season, followed by defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande who also collected 26 points.

Luneng will take on Guangzhou Evergrande on Saturday, as Brazilian star manager Scolari resumed coaching in Guangzhou recently. It would be a tough match for Luneng as Cuca was banned, and the league leader-chasing match would be tough.

"It is football. And a pity that Cuca will not be able to step on the pitch tommorrow, but the two teams will compete as usual," said Scolari, adding he ans Cuca were old friends.