Ghanaian winger Frank Acheampong subjected to racist abuse in China, reacts strongly

Ghanaian winger Frank Acheampong was sent off after reacting to a racist abuse during Shenzhen FC's 3-1 Chinese Super League defeat at Henan Jianye on Friday.

Acheampong endured the distressing incident during the Chinese Super League Week 19 match on Friday.

The 29-year-old was given his marchnig orders for violent conduct after a player of the opposing side subject him to racist insults during the first-half of the Chinese Super League match.

The incident occurred in the 34th minute of the Round 19 fixture at Zhengzhou Hanghai Stadium with Shenzhen trailing 2-1 at the time.

The player was targeted with racist abuse by an opponent, leading to a heated altercation on the pitch.

The incident occurred in the 34th minute of the match when Acheampong retaliated by hitting the player who directed racial slurs at him. The Ghanaian star reacted strongly, resulting in him being shown a red card and subsequently being sent off.

Acheampong, who has an unblemished disciplinary record in his five years playing in China, appeared to strike an opposition player after being subjected to discriminatory comments.

However, while the Ghanaian received a straight red card for his retaliation, the Henan player was not punished for the purported racial slur that triggered Acheampong's outburst.

Shenzhen went on to lose the bad-tempered contest 3-1, but attention was fixed on the controversial flashpoint involving their star winger.

Acheampong spoke to Ghanasoccernet.com after the game to confirm he had been racially abused by saying: "I have suffered racist insults and I could not hold back.

"I have been in China for the past five years and I love this country because China and the Chinese people are great. However it is unacceptable for any human to be subjected t racist insults let alone in the game of football.

'I am normally a calm and level headed person but no one should accept any racist slurs or insults."

Clearly upset and furious, Acheampong was already storming off the pitch before the referee brandished the red card. Efforts to calm him down or console him proved ineffective, as he left the field visibly agitated.

Ghanaian winger Frank Acheampong suffers racist abuse by an opponent in China, hits back. pic.twitter.com/V5O6unqH4y

— Ghanasoccernet.com (@Ghanasoccernet) July 28, 2023