Participants' Issues
A number of sportsmen were criticised for their behaviour at the games:
- The Chinese men's football team was severely criticised by the domestic media for its poor sportsmanship, particularly during the match against Belgium. Defender Tan Wangsong was red-carded for kicking Belgium's Sebastien Pocognoli in the lower abdomen, while Zheng Zhi was ejected for elbowing an opponent.
- Mohammad Alirezaei of Iran was to race against Israel's Tom Be'eri in the fourth heat of the 100 meter breaststroke, but pulled out, allegedly under the orders from officials of the Iranian delegation for political reasons.
- Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian rejected his bronze medal in 84 kg Greco-Roman wrestling in protest over the judging of a semifinal match.
- Cuban taekwondo athlete Ángel Valodia Matos kicked referee Chakir Chelbat in the face after being disqualified. His coach further accused the referee of taking bribes from Kazakhstan. Matos' records at the Beijing Games were erased, and the World Taekwondo Federation banned Matos and his coach from WTF events for life.
- Chinese taekwondo judges were accused of throwing a game to a weaker opponent so that the Chinese competitor in the next match would win.
Read more about this topic: Concerns And Controversies Over The 2008 Summer Olympics
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