Wuhan names new boss

Wuhan Zall boss Yan Zhi announced on Monday the club has hired Serbian coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic (pictured) as its new head coach.

The team, in its first CSL year, has been struggling in the top flight, with five losses and one draw in the first six rounds. Zall lost to Guangzhou R&F 2-0 at home on Saturday.

Former coach Zheng Xiong tendered his resignation after the team suffered its fourth defeat, and it was accepted by the club on Sunday.

Tumbakovic coached Shandong Luneng from 2004-09 and took it to the peak of Chinese soccer in 2006 when it won the league by 17 points and the FA Cup. The side won the league title again in 2008.

In an on-line poll on Sina.com, about 70 percent of the participants believe the Serb can turn things around at Zall.

Renhe coach banned from AFC sidelines

Guizhou Renhe coach Gong Lei has been banned from the sidelines of the club's AFC Champions League game against Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol on Tuesday.

Gong must sit in the stands during the game and is not allowed to communicate with his coaching staff or team through electronic devices.

The coach was expelled to the stands by the AFC after making a gesture of counting money to the referee in a game against Australian club Central Coast Mariners on April 9.

Though he said he was just reminding the referee to send off a player from the Australian side, he failed to escape punishment and could face further AFC sanctions.

(China Daily 04/23/2013 page22)