The Women’s World Cup turned ugly on Wednesday as China alleged that Denmark had accused the World Cup host of spying on a Danish team meeting prior to their Group D clash, which China won, 3-2. Substitute Song Xioali won the match just a minute after the Danes had equalized, sending in a powerful shot off the crossbar with just two minutes to spare. However, a fantastic match was effectively ruined afterwards as the bad blood spilled onto the field, sparking a brawl. FIFA has given no word of any sanctions following the incident.
A Swedish newspaper quoted Danish coach Kenneth Heiner Moller as saying that the Chinese soccer federation had had bugs installed in Denmark’s meeting and locker rooms. Before the game, Heiner-Moller says that two men were found watching one of their team meetings from behind a one-way mirror. However, he says he never suggested that these had been spies deployed by the World Cup host. “It is a fake story, and we have done nothing against China,” Heiner-Moller told the Chinese news agency Xinhua on Thursday afternoon. “I don’t know who they are, maybe journalists or working staff of the hotel,” he said. “I asked them to leave and we changed a room for the meeting.”
As for the brawl, Heiner-Moller said: “Losing a crucial match in such a way frustrated us a lot. And no one knows what a person in that mood will react.” The Danes next play New Zealand, while China faces the considerably tougher task of group favorite Brazil.