The Chinese Football Association handed out its heaviest punishment yesterday to Tianjin's Under-20 team with one player receiving a life ban while eight others were slapped with bans ranging from five matches to three years.

Zhao Shitong's CFA registration was cancelled after he chased the referee out of the pitch at the end of Tianjin's 1-3 defeat to Beijing in the group stages for the 11th National Games in Taian, Shandong Province, on Sunday.

Tianjin keeper Li Gen and midfielder He Tengjiao were banned for three years. Six other players received bans from 30 months to 5 matches. A Tianjin team official was also banned from all-CFA related activities for one year.

(Shanghai Daily July 31, 2009)