Police investigating Asian Cup violence

Police investigating Asian Cup violence

BEIJING: Chinese police are investigating crowd violence that followed Japan's victory over China in the finals of the Asian Cup soccer tournament in Beijing earlier this month, a government spokesman said on Friday.

"Mobbing and vandalism are strictly prohibited by Chinese law, and police will mete out penalties to those responsible in accordance with the law," Public Security Ministry spokesman Hao Chiyong said at a news briefing.

Alarmed by rising anti-Japanese sentiment among Chinese fans, authorities assigned thousands of riot police to Beijing's Workers' Stadium for the Aug. 7 game, which Japan won 3-1.

Many Chinese remain deeply resentful over Japan's brutal World War II invasion, feelings stoked by frequent confrontational reports in Chinese state media.

After the final whistle, crowds chanting anti-Japanese insults broke bottles, burned Japanese flags, and exchanged kicks and punches with police outside the stadium. --AP