Former Chinese international Jiang Zhipeng once again displayed his fiery temper after Shenzhen New Peng City’s loss to Shandong Taishan. The 37-year-old defender clashed with home fans following the match. According to local supporters’ groups, some in the crowd simply shouted “Chen Tao out,” but Jiang reacted angrily, pointing and shouting back at the fans. If the reports are accurate, his behavior was clearly inappropriate.
The scene became even more striking when head coach Chen Tao stepped in to calm Jiang, yet it took multiple people to hold the veteran back, nearly shaking off their efforts. After being pulled away, Chen repeatedly apologized to the Shenzhen fans, lingering on the pitch and earning applause for his composure.
This incident recalls a similar moment from four years ago during a Chinese Super League match. Then, Jiang was playing for the now-defunct Shenzhen team against Changchun Yatai. Trailing 1-0 in the final minutes, Jiang lost his cool when Yatai’s Zhang Yufeng went down with cramp—even though Zhang had been substituted 14 minutes earlier. Jiang shouted and pointed his water bottle at the opposing player. Once again, the scene played out: then-head coach Zhang Xiaorui tried to intervene, unable to stop him. The opposing bench, led by Chen Yang, was left stunned.
Despite his consistent performances and tireless work rate, Jiang Zhipeng’s uncontrolled anger is a growing concern. Over four years, the head coach intervening has changed from Zhang Xiaorui to Chen Tao, but Jiang’s explosive personality remains unchanged. The captain of Shenzhen New Peng City clearly needs to rethink his conduct on and off the pitch.
