Chinese ice hockey players have been banned from the sport after footage emerged showing them brutally beating up opponents from Hong Kong.
The ugly scenes broke out in the closing minutes of a National Youth Games match between two boys’ team, according to the South China Morning Post.
Hong Kong's team had been winning 11-2 against their opponents Kunlun Red Star from the mainland city of Shenzhen, in Guangdoing province, when the violence erupted.
A video posted on social media showed two Kunlun players repeatedly punching Hong Kong’s number 23, reported to be Jonathan Wong, in the head as he shields his face from the blows.
A woman outside the rink can be heard shouting “stop, stop”, while several other skirmishes can be seen in the background.
Two referees eventually step in to stop the fighting.
Hong Kong’s coach described the attacks as "despicable," "dirty," and "a violation of sportsmanship," Radio Free Asia reported.
The Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association said three Shenzhen players were banned for one year by the organisers following Wednesday’s match, held in Chengde, northeast of Beijing.
According to Radio Free Asia, the China Ice Hockey Association said the scenes caught on camera were a “collision".
But the South China Morning Post reported the association had given assurances the incident would not be repeated.
The were no reports of any injuries.
