On the evening of March 1st, Shanghai Shenhua hosted Beijing Guoan at their home stadium in the Chinese Super League, ultimately ending the match in a 2-2 draw. However, after the game, fans from both teams clashed outside the Shanghai Stadium, resulting in physical altercations and injuries to some Shenhua supporters.
According to Mr. Zhang, a Shenhua fan who witnessed the incident, the confrontation took place around 10 p.m. on March 1st outside a convenience store near the Shanghai Stadium. Several Shenhua fans provoked Guoan supporters, leading to a group brawl.
Videos circulating online show large groups of fans from both teams exchanging insults and shoving each other, attracting onlookers and creating a chaotic scene. In one video, a Shenhua fan can be seen getting injured during the conflict, clutching his face in pain as he falls to the ground.
Mr. Zhang explained that he was wearing Shenhua fan attire and standing among the Guoan fan group. Surprisingly, he mentioned that they were “friendly to rational fans and even asked us to stand further away to avoid getting hurt.”
He admitted that the Shenhua fans who initiated the provocation may have gone too far.
In response to the incident, Xujiahui Police Station of Xuhui Branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau stated on March 2nd that they were unaware of the conflict, as they had only learned about it through online sources.
The clash between the Shanghai Shenhua and Beijing Guoan fans outside the stadium once again highlights the volatile nature of football rivalries and the potential for such confrontations to escalate beyond just sporting competition. It serves as a reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and respectful behavior among fans, regardless of team allegiance.