KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Two-time Asian Champions League winner Guangzhou Evergrande has been charged by the sport’s continental governing body after supporters unfurled an offensive banner aimed at a Hong Kong opponent this week.
The Asian Football Confederation says it opened disciplinary cases against the Chinese club - Asia’s champion in 2013 and ’15 - Kawasaki Frontale of Japan and Nejmeh of Lebanon for discrimination incidents this month.
Guangzhou Evergrande held up an anti-British, anti-Hong Kong independence banner during a 6-0 win over Eastern on Tuesday. Hong Kong was a British colony returned to Chinese rule 20 years ago.
Kawasaki Frontale was charged for “a similar offence of discrimination” during a Champions League game against Suwon Samsung Bluewings in South Korea.
Nejmeh was charged following incidents at an AFC Cup home game against Al Wehdat of Jordan.
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