China captain Zheng Zhi has been fined 100,000 RMB ($14,710) by his club Guangzhou Evergrande for refusing to ensure his teammates shook hands with the referee after their 4-3 loss at the hands of Tianjin Quanijian.
The defeat at the weekend was Guangzhou's first in 13 games as the six-time Chinese champions saw their lead at the top of the Chinese Super League standings reduced to just a single point by Shanghai SIPG.
Zheng, who has led Guangzhou on their record-breaking run of six league titles and two Asian Champions League crowns, was warned after he "failed to comply with the club regulations and failed to be the leading example for the team."
Guangzhou also hit team manager Chen Guanning with a salary reduction for his part in the incident.
"The club will continue to strictly regulate the team with clear rewards and punishments," a Guangzhou statement read. "All players and the coach have to learn from this incident."
The move comes after SIPG were hit hard by the Chinese Football Association in recent weeks, with Oscar handed an eight-game ban for his involvement in a melee during his side's meeting with Guangzhou R&F.
SIPG coach Andre Villas-Boas and players Hulk and Wu Lei were then handed two-game suspensions each following their show of support for Oscar following his sanction.
