The Chinese Super League proved that they are capable of ruthlessly punishing dissidents earlier this season, as Qin Sheng was banned for six months and fined £14,o00 for stamping on Axel Witsel. The suspension followed a straight red card and a strong statement by his club, in which they said that "the extremely irrational behaviour of Qin Sheng has severely tarnished the image of this club, the football of Shanghai and even Chinese football. All the efforts made by others have gone down the drain because of him".
Not every player in the league has received a severe reprimand for acting like a gobshite, however.
Ezequiel Lavezzi is playing with Hebei CFFC, and his absurd wage had gone unnoticed amid the Carlos 'One Pound A Second' Tevez headlines. It emerged last week, however, that Lavezzi is, in fact, the world's highest paid player, making £798,000 a week.
He created a storm online last week, too, when this preposterous photo emerged:
This picture of Argentinian international Ezequiel Lavezzi, who plays football in China is so offensive!
This is racist. pic.twitter.com/MgB2q2BYDf— Rashi (@rashi_kakkar) May 12, 2017
Lavezzi yesterday explained the photo, and apologised for the offence he caused. In a statement, he said the following:
Per the request of the Chinese Super League, we took the official photos for the season.
We were given instructions by the official photographer and I was trying to make some interesting photos by making some funny faces, which would be used afterwards for entertainment purposes.I had no intention of insulting the Chinese people and did not do it with any bad intentions.
I'm very happy to be here as part of the Hebei club. I have had a great time here with my team-mates and it has been a great journey. Every Chinese person around me is friendly and I love my life here.
I deeply apologise if this photo has offended the Chinese public and fans. I will be more careful in the future.
The club have apologised, too, along with denying that the photo had been officially released by the club.
Since joining us at the beginning of 2016, Lavezzi has been getting along very well with the team and been loved by fans too.
He has expressed his love for China many times too. Now we have communicated with him and have clarified he had no bad intentions and he deeply apologised for any offence caused.
As a club, we apologise for our neglect in our work. We will be more careful in the future.
Lavezzi won't face any punishment.
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