After making a sensational return to football with Chinese club, Shanghai Shenhua for a second spell, Obafemi Martins and his side performed a ritual of respect for victims of the deadly Coronavirus.
In wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Chinese Super League held a minute’s silence on Saturday before the season kicked off five months late posed by the indefinite halt to sporting activities as players bowed their heads to remember virus victims and honor medical staff as Fabio Cannavaro’s reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande beat FA Cup winners Shanghai Shenhua 2-0.
The opening match of the badly delayed campaign was played in an empty stadium in the city of Dalian, which along with Suzhou is hosting behind-doors games for the next two months.
A smattering of security personnel and doctors wearing white coats were allowed to watch the match in the stands in recognition of their efforts against the virus. All had face masks on.
Moments before kick-off, Evergrande’s captain Paulinho, Brazilian international midfielder, and his team-mates unfurled a banner reading: “Salute to medical workers,” and Shenhua’s players wore T-shirts to honor coronavirus “heroes”.
Chinese international forward Wei Shihao scored both goals for Cannavaro’s side, one in each half.
The number of virus infections has dwindled markedly in China but Dalian is currently the scene of a small cluster of fresh cases, putting Chinese football officials on edge although Chinese Football Association and Chinese Super League (CSL) are taking no risks with the new season, which was supposed to begin in February but became one of the earliest sporting victims of the health crisis.
The 16 CSL teams have been divided into two groups, in Suzhou and Dalian, and players must spend the first two months living in sealed-off hotels.
