Hulk in hot water as Brazilian goes before China FA

SIPG manager Andre Villas-Boas travelled with the Brazilian striker to CFA headquarters in Beijing and another Shanghai player, Wu Lei, was also present, a club spokeswoman told AFP.

Hulk, who has hit nine goals in the Chinese Super League (CSL) this season, and Chinese international Wu wore T-shirts in support of the banned Oscar after SIPG beat Henan Jianye 4-1 at the weekend.

The club spokeswoman declined to give further details and said only that the CFA hearing was "related" to the T-shirts.

Hulk's top had the words NOTHING TO DO, NOTHING TO SAY written on it, the same phrase as on a T-shirt worn by Oscar and which has become an unofficial rallying cry for SIPG fans angry at the CFA.

It is the second time in as many months that the 30-year-old Hulk has gone before Chinese football chiefs -- last month he was accused of punching the assistant coach of another club.

Hulk denied the accusation and no further action was taken.

Brazil's Oscar, an Asian-record 60-million-euro capture this season from Chelsea, was the latest big-name foreign import to hit trouble in China when he was slapped with the lengthy suspension last week for triggering a mass brawl in a league game.

SIPG, second in the table under the Portuguese Villas-Boas, this week warned fans to cool it after they protested at Sunday's home game over Oscar's punishment.

The CFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.