14-year-old Young Footballer Beaten by Zhangjiajie Team; Guangdong FA and Hunan FA Announce Multiple Punishments

In response to the incident where a 14-year-old young player from Guangdong Mingtu U16 squad was beaten by the Zhangjiajie football team, the Guangdong Football Association and the Hunan Football Association announced disciplinary decisions against multiple individuals involved on the evening of June 26.

According to a notice published by the Guangdong Football Association on the evening of June 26, the Guangdong FA issued a "Punishment Decision Regarding the Violation of Discipline and Ethics During the Closed-Door Friendly Match Between Guangdong Mingtu U16 Squad and Hunan Zhangjiajie Football Team." The statement said that on the afternoon of June 21, Guangdong Mingtu U16 squad and Hunan Zhangjiajie football team held a closed-door friendly match (no spectators). During the match, a verbal altercation between personnel from both sides escalated into a physical conflict, drawing public attention. Based on investigations conducted by the Guangdong FA and other relevant parties, the following disciplinary actions were taken against those involved:

1. Huang Haiwen, the person directly responsible, receives a three-year ban from the football industry. As a social football practitioner who organized the match under the name "Zhaoqing Sports" in Guangzhou, Huang bears undeniable direct responsibility for this serious violation. He is banned from practicing, working, or engaging in related business activities in football within Guangdong province for three years, from June 25, 2026 to June 24, 2029.

1. The team leader and coach responsible for management receive a six-month suspension. Qin Jiexian, the on-site coach and interpreter of Guangdong Mingtu U16 squad, and Huang Junfeng, the team leader, are suspended for six months, from June 25, 2026 to December 24, 2026.

1. Guangdong Mingtu Football Club, as the primarily responsible entity, is ordered to submit a thorough review to its superior authorities and is given a public notice of criticism.

1. Player No. 1 and Player No. 10 of Guangdong Mingtu U16 squad, who were involved in the conflict, are ordered to write thorough self-criticisms and receive disciplinary education within the team.

According to a notice published by the Hunan Football Association via its WeChat official account on the evening of June 26, the following disciplinary actions were taken against those involved in the incident:

1. Li Lixing, Player No. 11 of the Zhangjiajie football team, receives a 12-month suspension, from June 25, 2026 to June 24, 2027.

1. Zhang Shuai (Player No. 1), Cao Zhi (Player No. 10), and Han Peijiang (Player No. 20) of the Zhangjiajie football team each receive a six-month suspension, from June 25, 2026 to December 24, 2026.

1. Player No. 33 of the Zhangjiajie football team is ordered to write a thorough self-criticism and receive disciplinary education within the team.

1. Chen Na (team leader), Liu Xinyi (team interpreter), and Shi Haijun (on-site coach) of the Zhangjiajie football team each receive a six-month suspension, from June 25, 2026 to December 24, 2026.

1. The Zhangjiajie football team is ordered to submit a thorough review to its superior authorities and is given a public notice of criticism.

1. The Zhangjiajie Football Sports Association is ordered to submit a thorough review to its superior authorities and is given a public notice of criticism.

Earlier, the news that a 14-year-old player from the Guangdong Mingtu U16 squad had been beaten by the Zhangjiajie football team had drawn widespread public attention. Media reports revealed that on the afternoon of June 21, during an exchange match in Guangzhou between the Hunan Zhangjiajie football team and the Guangdong Mingtu youth squad, players from both sides had a verbal argument that escalated into a physical altercation. Among the beaten players from the Guangdong Mingtu squad, the most seriously injured was 14-year-old Zhang Haoye. He had been selected for the Chinese U15 men's national football team training camp in April of this year and had joined the team on a trip to Italy for the "Nations' Cup," having just completed the fourth training camp of the China U15 men's national football team in 2026.

In the early hours of June 22, Guangdong Mingtu Club issued a statement saying that during the match between Guangdong Mingtu U16 squad and the Xiang-Chao Zhangjiajie team on June 21, personnel from the Zhangjiajie team maliciously assaulted the club's underage and youth players, causing physical injuries and psychological harm to the club's players and severely disrupting the match order.

On the morning of June 22, the Zhangjiajie Football Association issued a notice stating that it had taken the incident seriously and had immediately dispatched staff to Guangzhou to investigate. The public security authorities are currently investigating and handling the incident. Going forward, disciplinary actions will be taken against those involved based on the investigation results, and further updates will be announced to the public.

On the same day, the Hunan Football Association issued a statement announcing that effective immediately (June 22, 2026), all individuals involved in the incident are suspended from participating in any football activities within Hunan Province, including but not limited to all levels of football matches, training, and related activities organized, hosted, or co-organized by the Hunan FA and its member associations. The Hunan FA ordered the Zhangjiajie Football Association to immediately investigate the incident in accordance with laws and regulations, take strict disciplinary action against those involved based on the findings, reflect deeply on its management responsibilities, and comprehensively strengthen team discipline education and daily management. Furthermore, the Hunan FA will handle any potential illegal or non-compliant conduct in this incident strictly according to law.