Chinese soccer bad boy Mao Jianqing has been cut from the national team and branded a "gangster" after being charged with assault, state media reported Thursday.

Chinese football officials have fiercely lashed out at Mao after he beat up a man in a Shanghai restaurant early Monday morning, hours after his Shanghai Shenhua team lost the Chinese Super League title, the China Daily reported.

"The national team will not admit anyone who acts like a gangster," the newspaper quoted an unidentified Chinese Football Association official as saying.

"Mao has good technique and moves on the field and the national team coaches had high hopes. "But with this scandalous behaviour he has ruined his future international career."

Mao and two other athletes reportedly attacked the victim when he greeted one of Mao's female friends.

The victim suffered head injuries and bruises to his arms and chest, according to reports. Two of the victim's female friends were also injured when they tried to intervene.

Mao, 22, and teammate Liu Yintao were being held in police custody for a week and were fined 500 yuan (73 dollars), according to reports.

Chinese Basketball Association player Xu Yong, who was eating with Mao, was also involved, but escaped with just a fine because he was in poor health, state media reported.

China Football Association spokesman Dong Hua would not comment on the case on Wednesday and was not reachable by phone on Thursday.

Mao has a history of bad behaviour. Shenhua demoted him to the reserve team two years ago after he stamped on his coach's BMW during a drunken tirade.

As a teenager, he kicked a fan and hit a referee on separate occasions during different international tournaments.

Shenhua officials said they would punish the left winger for the latest incident but were willing to give him one more chance.

"After he is released from custody, we will educate him and impose a punishment," Zhangg Defa, the club's general councilor was quoted as saying.

"We hope it's a good lesson," he said.

AFP

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