Reports of the post-match trouble soon appeared in the international media. A Reuters journalist reported: "It became an anti-foreigner riot."
CCTV's Evening News described it as the most serious example of sporting violence in the capital since the founding of the PRC, and as having done terrible damage to the nation's reputation.
Back in their dormitories, the players and the coaches spent a sleepless night.
Li Huajun said, "We couldn't eat. The fans had gathered in Longtan Road, which was the only way out. There were hundreds of them."
Qi Wusheng said, "Zeng didn't take a shower for a week. Everyone stayed in their rooms."
Lin Lefeng said, "For a week, the fans kept coming, wanting to talk to us and our coach."
Qi Wusheng said, "Letters arrived every day, bunches of them, thousands of them."
Li Huajun said, "Some fans sent smelly socks, or flies. In one envelope, there were 11 flies."
Qi Wusheng said, "Zeng Xuelin received two blades, a hint that he should cut his own throat."
Li Huajun said, "There were even bullets, as if to say: "Coach, I plan to shoot you.""
On May the 29th, a brief article was published in the China Sports Daily. On the same day, Zeng Xuelin's resignation was accepted, and Gao Fengwen took over as national team coach.
Qi Wusheng said, "It was the shortest term ever served by a coach in the national team's history. Zeng Xuelin established the team in March 1983 and left in May 1985. Two years, and he was gone. There was never such a short term."
The China National Football Team, under Gao Fengwen as coach, made it to the 1988 Olympic Games in Korea. It was the first time China's football team had ever qualified for a major international tournament.
However, Li Huajun wasn't there. He had retired from the national team in October 1981, and returned to his home town.
In the World Cup Asian Zone Qualifiers in July 1989 China, by conceding late goals to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, lost both games. At the 1990 Asian Games, China surprisingly lost to Thailand. Soon afterwards, Gao Fengwen resigned.
On April the 17th, 1994, the Chengdu Sports Center echoed to the beating of drums. The ceremony marked the launch of the China Football Super League Division A. On the same day, around 150,000 fans in 6 cities watched the first round of matches in various stadiums. The crowds in Chengdu and Yanji numbered more than 40,000. That day marked the start of a professional football league in China.
In 2001, Li Huajun once again appeared on a football pitch, this time as coach of the Red Tower youth team from Yunnan, in the China Football Super League Division B. As a coach, Li Huajun made just over 7,000 yuan a month. His team mates from his playing days, who were coaches of major football clubs, earned over a million a year. 20 years before, Li had earned 30 yuan as a player for the national team.
