Shanghai Shenhua Fans Shout Insults at Yu Genwei After Match, Prompting Tianjin Journalist Gu Ying's Strong Critique

On July 8, 2026, Shanghai Shenhua finished a home game with a narrow win, after which tens of thousands of supporters erupted in chants insulting former Shanghai Guoan player Yu Genwei. Tianjin journalist Gu Ying publicly condemned the behavior on social media, calling it "beyond reasonable limits". The incident quickly spread across Weibo and Tieba, becoming a hot topic of the week.

What exactly happened?

In the 85th minute after the final whistle, Shenhua secured a 1-0 victory. Immediately, the crowd began chanting Yu Genwei's name with abusive language. Gu Ying wrote on her Weibo on the evening of July 8: "Thousands of Shenhua fans lost control, loudly insulting Yu Genwei, which surprised me greatly." She questioned why fans would harbor such strong hatred toward a retired former Guoan player.

Why does the city derby intensify emotions?

Shanghai hosts two top‑tier clubs—Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai Port—whose long‑standing rivalry fuels fan antagonism. Gu Ying noted: "Shanghai's two teams are city‑derby foes; you bow to one and provoke the other, which clearly looks down on Shenhua." She believes the derby atmosphere amplified emotions, leading to the extreme collective insults.

Reactions and possible repercussions

Many netizens argued that city derbies are inherently heated, yet some pointed out that Tianjin fans would react similarly if their team lost. Gu Ying maintained that respect for opponents is essential, as professional football relies on on‑field performance, not verbal attacks. Shanghai Shenhua has not issued an official response, but analysts suggest the controversy may push the club to tighten fan management and promote civilized viewing. Whether authorities will intervene in the coming days remains to be seen.