Wrong colour shirts costs Shenzhen three points

BEIJING (Reuters) - A clash of shirt colours has cost struggling Chinese Super League side Shenzhen three points and 100,000 yuan ($14,650) after it caused the delay of their home match against Shanghai on Aug. 30.

Both teams play in white but Shenzhen forgot to provide their players with a change -- as they were obliged to do as hosts -- resulting in a nearly one hour kickoff delay as officials scoured the city before finding a batch of blue shirts.

After a hearing last Thursday, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) have finally doled out the punishment as well as excluding Shenzhen from this year's CSL FairPlay Award.

"The incident not only violated disciplinary rules but also distracted from the orderliness, damaged the football environment and undermined the CSL's image," the CFA said on its website.

Shenzhen, who were beaten 2-1 in the match, could ill-afford the points loss, which leaves them in the relegation zone with only Arie Haan's hapless Chongqing beneath them.

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