Du Wei in U-turn, set to play for reserves

Shanghai Shenhua's troubled defender Du Wei relented yesterday and said that he would accept the club's decision to relegate him to the reserves team.

Shanghai Shenhua player Du Wei. [qianlong.com]

"I haven't and will not dispute the club's decision," Du said, reading from a prepared statement at the team's Kangqiao training complex in Pudong yesterday.

"As pointed out by the club leaders, I accept that I haven't met the first team standard in training and in matches recently, which justifies their stand."

Du had been defiant since the club announced its stand last week.

The Chinese international, who started five of the six games that Shenhua played so far this season, claimed in his personal blog that he had done nothing wrong and questioned the legitimacy of the club's action.

Shenhua officials declined to clarify yesterday when Du would be reinstated in the first team.

Domestic media has speculated that the 25-year-old defender has been a victim of internal squabbles within the club. Shenhua was merged with crosstown rival Shanghai United FC after United owner Zhu Jun bought out the controlling stakes in the club two months ago. The merger was greeted with hostility by Shenhua players who were clearly unhappy with the arrival of new bunch of players.

Shenhua's diehard fans have vociferously protested against the punishment meted out to Du - seen as a leader in the Shenhua ranks - during the side's Chinese Super League match against Wuhan Guanggu last Sunday.

Du's about-turn however did not assuage the fans.

"Obviously, he was forced to accept the ruling," read one post on the online forum of Blue Devil, Shenhua's biggest supporter group. "It makes no sense and we will continue to protest."