Japanese Media: Shandong Team’s Rough Play Led to Clashes; Continued Pressure on Referees After Final Whistle

According to Japanese media Gekisaka, in the second round of the group stage matches for the new season of the AFC Champions League Elite League, Vissel Kobe secured a 2-1 victory over Shandong Taishan at home, earning their first win in this tournament. Due to significant changes in the format of this year’s AFC Champions League, Vissel Kobe drew 0-0 with Buriram United from Thailand in the first round, making them eager to claim all three points at home in this match.

Notably, towards the end of the game, an incident occurred. The Japanese media reported that due to rough fouls by Shandong Taishan, a clash broke out on the field. Players and staff from both teams rushed into the center of the pitch, leading to a temporary loss of control. It was only with the intervention of VAR that the match could resume and eventually conclude. After the final whistle, members of Shandong Taishan’s coaching staff continued to express dissatisfaction with the referee’s decisions, putting sustained pressure on them, creating a highly tense atmosphere on the scene.

Moreover, the Japanese media “Mainichi Shimbun” also reported on a scene that unfolded in the dying moments of the match: during stoppage time, a foul by Shandong led to intense confrontations between players from both sides. At the time, Vissel Kobe’s forward Patrik was fouled by a Shandong player while attempting a breakaway, which immediately sparked physical altercations between players and sideline staff from both teams. The referee had to suspend the game for an extended period to regain control of the situation. Previously, four Shandong Taishan players had already been cautioned with yellow cards for improper conduct. Even after the game ended, Shandong’s bench remained agitated, continuing to voice their discontent with the refereeing team.