Players pay tribute to murdered Shanghai East Asia fan

Shanghai East Asia players climbed into the stands post-match last night to lay floral tributes on the seat of a 16-year-old female fan who was murdered two days before the match.

Emotional East Asia fans mourn their loss

The deeply shocking death occurred when the unnamed supporter failed to return home on Sunday night. Her mother contacted the police that evening, and following a search, her body was found in bushes just a few hundred meters from her home in Heqing Town, a semi-rural area near the coast of Pudong New District.

The victim was returning home after her first day of a summer job, and murdered in a small lane just minutes from her front door, according to the Oriental Morning Post. After reviewing local surveillance camera footage, a male suspect aged 20, from Henan province, was arrested in an Internet Cafe also in Heqing town.

According to local media reports, an investigation is on-going.

East Asia triumphed 1-0 over Henan Jianye in the match last night, with a goal from home favourite Wu Lei the difference between the sides. Wu pointed skywards in honour of the departed fan in an emotional goal celebration.

Afterwards, the entire squad climbed onto the terrace of the Sirius Fans Group, of which the murdered fan was an active member. Her favourite player, Swede Tobias Hysen, laid a replica of his number 9 shirt on her seat in a small shrine dedicated to the deceased (see main pic).

“My thoughts and deepest sympathies goes out to the family of the Shanghai fan that was murdered.. R.I.P little angel,” said Hysen on his official Weibo.

Captain Wang Shenchao leads the tributes

East Asia Captain Wang Shenchao led the players onto the terrace, and there were emotional scenes as players paid their respects as they mingled with the supporters.

“We learned this shocking news before the game,” said goalscorer, Wu Lei, “And the players agreed that we should do some kind of special tribute with the fans after the match. Of course winning the game was the best way to do it.”

East Asia continue their season away to Changchun on Sunday.