Shanghai Shenhua midfielder Qin Sheng faced multiple punishments after a deliberate foot stamp on Tianjin Quanjian import Axel Witsel. The China international carried out the bad deed during the two team's 1-1 draw at the Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai in a 2017 Chinese Super League second round match last Saturday.

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Qin was given a $43,380 fine by Shanghai Shenhua as penalty while he received a three-match ban from the Chinese Super League on top of the red card booked on him during the game. Aside from that, the club also relegated him from its first team to the reserves along with a reported pay cut, according to The Sun.

The 30-year-old has a previous history of violence on the pitch. In 2013, Qin fractured Zlatan Muslimovic's nose after kicking the import's face while also banging Dutch midfielder Jonathan de Guzman to the ground during a friendly match between China and the Netherlands.

Shenhua issued an official statement about the foot-stamping incident, saying that their player's "behavior was against sportsmanship".

"The club will see his attitude and follow-up performances, and decide whether to cut his annual salary," the statement said. "When purchasing competitive achievements, the club will not loosen its management over players. We will take this as a lesson and avoid incidents like this."

Shenhua also instructed Qin to make a public apology, to which the veteran footballer complied. He called his conduct "vulgar" as he admitted that he "displayed severely irrational behavior, causing an injury to an opponent", as per the Pulse.

"Exciting match but stupid foul. My personal behavior affected the whole team," said Qin. "I want to apologize to the fans, club officials and coaches, as well as my pals fighting together on the pitch."

"As a professional player, I should not take such 'revenge' but respect the referee's decision," he added.

Qin has then sworn that he will "make amends" to get the club's confidence back and will accept all punishments accordingly. He is earning an estimated $723,000 annual wage in Shanghai according to reports.

TagsChinese Super League, Chinese Super League news, Chinese Super League News 2017, Qin Sheng, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC, Tianjin Quanjian FC, Axel Witsel