The decision by Zhejiang FC to play a league match just hours after the death of their Gabon international striker Aaron Boupendza has sparked widespread outrage among football fans in China. Boupendza, 28, died on Wednesday after falling from the 11th floor of a building in Hangzhou, with police ruling out foul play.
Grief and Anger
Despite the tragic news, Zhejiang FC went ahead with their scheduled match against Meizhou Hakka, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Fans took to social media to express their grief and anger, with many questioning the decision to play the match. “Shouldn’t this match have been postponed?” one user wrote on Weibo. “Why didn’t they postpone the match? The Chinese Super League is really very amateur,” another posted on WeChat.
Emotional Response
The match was played in a sombre atmosphere, with none of the club’s other foreign players taking the field. Fans showed their respect for Boupendza by chanting his name, holding up his shirt, and lighting up phone torches. After the match, Zhejiang’s players and staff paid their respects to the fans in a collective mourning. The emotional toll was evident, with Zhejiang’s captain Cheng Jin struggling to answer questions in his post-match TV interview. “I’m sorry, it’s not that I don’t respect you. I don’t have anything I really want to say,” he said.
Coach’s Response
Zhejiang’s Spanish head coach Raul Caneda Perez also showed sensitivity, declining to discuss the match in his post-match press conference. “Today is not for talking about football,” he said through an interpreter. “Football should not be discussed in this context.”
Investigation and Condolences
The police investigation into Boupendza’s death found no evidence of foul play, and Zhejiang FC has released a statement saying they are cooperating with the authorities. The club has also offered its condolences to Boupendza’s family. Gabon’s national football association and the country’s president-elect, Brice Oligui Nguema, have also paid tribute to the late striker. “Aged 28, Boupendza leaves us with the memory of a great striker,” the association said. “It is with immense sadness that I learn of the tragic death of Aaron Boupendza, a talented centre-forward who brought honour to Gabonese football,” Nguema posted.