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Stephy Zhang

A football friendly between adults and young teenagers in China descended into violence over the weekend, leaving one rising star of the national youth set-up with a broken hand and injuries to the face and body.
The assault during the exhibition match at a training ground in Guangzhou, between Zhangjiajie, a visiting team from Hunan that plays in the province’s village league, and the Guangdong Mingtu under-16 academy side, was sparked by what officials called a “verbal dispute”.
Video of the chaotic brawl, which shows a youth player being knocked to the ground, has been widely shared on social media. Police are investigating.
Local media identified 14-year-old Zhang Haoye, who represented China’s under-15s at the Tournament of Nations in Italy in April, as the player who was hurt.
Zhang reportedly sustained injuries to his head, nose, abdomen and groin during the clash, and fractured the fifth metacarpal in his right hand.

广东铭途U16球员遭湘超张家界队球员殴打，国少张皓烨手指骨折。
6月21日晚上，广东铭途足球俱乐部发布了一封严正声明，声明中表示，该俱乐部梯队球员在与张家界队的比赛中，遭到了殴打，该俱乐部拒绝任何形式的道歉和调解，将通过法律途径来解决此事。
打人者当晚坐飞机逃回长沙了，湖南人太野了吧 pic.twitter.com/Oi2tkyP8Va
— 小牛 (@Xiaoniu6161) June 22, 2026

Guangdong Mingtu Football Club released a statement on Monday accusing Zhangjiajie personnel of “maliciously assaulting” its youth players.
“This caused physical and psychological trauma to our players and severely disrupted order,” the statement read. “Our club strongly condemns and maintains a zero-tolerance policy against this unsportsmanlike and egregious act of pitch violence.”
The club said it would pursue all legal options and would not “accept any form of apology, mediation or compromise”.
Zhangjiajie Football Association issued a statement expressing deep regret that “a verbal dispute between players escalated into a physical altercation”, adding those responsible would face disciplinary action.
The Hunan Football Association, which oversees the Zhangjiajie team, immediately suspended all those involved and directed local officials to cooperate with police and Guangdong authorities.
“Effective immediately, all individuals involved in this incident are suspended from all football activities within the province,” the association said.
A source told mainland media that an argument erupted around the 70th minute. Substitutes from both sides began shoving each other but were briefly separated by staff.
Shortly after play resumed, another round of pushing caused a Zhangjiajie player to fall, triggering the mass brawl.
A Zhangjiajie team official said their side had been “leading when the incident occurred, and several of our players were also injured”.
“The police are currently investigating, and it is inconvenient to disclose specific details,” the official added.
The Zhangjiajie team has been in Guangdong since June 12 for a 10-day closed training camp across Foshan and Shenzhen, travelling with a full 30-member squad.


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Altercation between Zhangjiajie side and Guangdong Mingtu under-16 academy team leaves one player with broken hand and injuries to face, body


Altercation between Zhangjiajie side and Guangdong Mingtu under-16 academy team leaves one player with broken hand and injuries to face, body.


China teen star badly beaten by adults during brawl in village football friendly

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Altercation between Zhangjiajie side and Guangdong Mingtu under-16 academy team leaves one player with broken hand and injuries to face, body

Altercation between Zhangjiajie side and Guangdong Mingtu under-16 academy team leaves one player with broken hand and injuries to face, body