Oscar kicks off brawl between Shanghai SIPG and Guangzhou RF

Oscar has had a decent but unremarkable first few months in the Chinese Super League since leaving Chelsea. He caught the world’s attention yesterday, though, inciting a brawl that brought all players, substitutes and staff into the fray.

Oscar has done little to justify the £60 million Shanghai SIPG paid for him in January. While Chelsea has done even less with that money (transfers, anybody know anything about transfers?), the Brazilian midfielder finally made headlines during Shanghai’s game against Guangzhou R&F.

Oscar’s teammate and countryman Hulk nutmegged a Guangzhou player in midfield, and then lost the ball trying to split two men. Oscar recovered the loose ball and blasted it off the legs of one of the Guangzhou players. He kicked the ball far too violently for it to have been a misdirected pass.

The ball bounced straight back to Oscar, who then repeated his kick towards a Guangzhou player coming towards him from Shanghai’s end. There was even less room to excuse this kick. It was nearly identical to the first and was towards his own defensive half.

As Oscar gestured towards Hulk – was he upset at Hulk? did he think Hulk was the victim of an uncalled foul? – a swarm of Guangzhuo players converged on Oscar and shoved him to the ground. Players and staff from both teams poured onto the pitch to either contribute to or attempt to interrupt the fracas.

One player from each side received a red card, but Oscar walked away without any disciplinary action. The melee was the last action of the first half. Minutes earlier, Oscar assisted on Hulk’s goal for 1-1, which ended up the final score.

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The assist was Oscar’s seventh of the season to set up Hulk’s ninth goal. The two Brazilians lead second-place Shanghai SIPG in those respective categories. The former Chelsea man also leads the club in key passes and long balls, playing a familiar position on the left side of Shanghai’s midfield in a 4-3-3.