Chinese club Changchun Xidu fined for using superstitious charms to unnerve opponents

BEIJING - Away team dressing rooms can be unwelcoming places but Chinese third-tier club Changchun Xidu are counting the cost of going the extra mile to throw their opponents off their game after being fined for placing superstitious items in the locker room.

The Chinese Professional Football League (CFL) said Changchun Xidu had placed the items in the away changing room at the stadium ahead of a match against Shanxi Chongde Ronghai on June 28.

Photos on social media showed yellow paper charms stuck to a wall, which were inscribed with phrases including: "By decree, Shanxi Chongde Ronghai must be defeated."

The CFL said it had fined Changchun Xidu 30,000 yuan ($4,189.36) after an investigation.

Changchun Xidu, second in the China League Two standings, won the match 2-0.

($1 = 7.1610 Chinese yuan renminbi)

—Reuters

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