CHONGQING (China), Feb 25: China's sporting reputation ahead of the Beijing Olympics took a hit at the East Asian Football Championships with fans misbehaving and their men's team collecting 17 yellow cards.

China's aggressive tactics in the three games they played against Japan, South Korea and North Korea also earned them a 14,500 dollars fine from the East Asian Football Federation.

Local spectators set the tone in Japan's opening 1-1 draw against North Korea by booing the Japanese national anthem, continuously jeering the Japanese players and burning some Japanese national flags.

When China then lost 1-0 to Japan the crowd turned their anger on the home side, demanding Chinese Football Association vice president Xie Yalong be sacked.

Xie, a native of Chongqing, had earlier fired up his team by urging them not to lose to wartime aggressor Japan.

“Never ever lose to the Japanese team in Chongqing,” he said, citing heavy World War II Japanese bombardments of the city where Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek had a provisional government, according to Chinese sports daily Titan.

Japan knew it was never going to get an easy ride in China with the players and supporters on the receiving end of taunts and abuse when they played group matches here at the 2004 Asian Cup.

In a bid to calm tensions, the public address system repeatedly warned at both men's and women's games that it is the “traditional virtue of Chongqing fans” to respect opponents and watch matches in a “friendly atmosphere”.

The ill-tempered China-Japan match saw the Chinese collect four cautions in addition to the five yellow cards they picked in going down 3-2 to South Korea.

The regional federation on Saturday fined the hosts 4,500 dollars for the misconduct, according to its regualtions that a team can be penalised a maximum 10,000 dollars for picking four or more yellow cards in a match.

But it failed to deter the Chinese who picked up another eight bookings and two red cards as they demolished North Korea 3-1 later that day, an offense that cost them a further 10,000 dollars.

“We cannot condone play which threatens the competitive careers of players,” Japanese delegation chief Kuniya Daini said in filing a protest against the rough play for “the good of East Asian football.”The men's competition was won by South Korea for the second time after they battled to a 1-1 with Japan on Saturday.

The South, who took the inaugural title in 2003, ended level on points and goal difference with Japan but lifted the trophy courtesy of more goals scored.

The women's event was won by unbeaten Japan who downed China's Steel Roses 3-0 on Sunday. Asian number-ones North Korea came second.

“I think at least the Chinese team deserved to be named the best fighting team,” Chinese men's coach Vladimir Petrovic said in explaining his side's behaviour.

“We were an attack-oriented team. That's why we received so many yellow cards and red cards.”

The Olympics are held in August.—AFP