Footie goes to China

BEIJING: Australian rules football made its first foray into China for an official league match yesterday, with a lopsided game at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai. In front of more than 10 000 fans, Port Adelaide thumped the Gold Coast Suns, winning by 72 points, 16.14 (110) to 4.14 (38). Security was tight for the match, with Australian broadcaster ABC reporting that there was one guard or police officer for every five crowd members. There was also no alcohol on sale at the game, it said. The game, which counted as an official league fixture for the 2017 season, was only the second one played in China between two professional Australian teams after an exhibition since 2010. The sport’s organisers, the AFL, declared the game a major success. – dpa