Ghanaian winger Frank Acheampong was controversially sent off in Henan FC’s 1-1 draw with Nantong Zhiyun FC in the Chinese Super League. Acheampong received a red card two minutes before full-time after a VAR review led referee Gao Peng to conduct an on-field review. The dismissal occurred when Acheampong unintentionally struck a Nantong player with his hand while attempting to break forward from midfield.

This decision left Henan to finish the match with 10 men, a blow for the team as they are in a precarious position in the league standings. Acheampong, who has been in strong form with three goals and two assists in 20 appearances this season, will now miss several key matches, including a Chinese FA Cup quarter-final clash.

Acheampong joined Henan earlier this year on a free transfer from Shenzhen FC, where he had played since 2021. His absence will be felt deeply as Henan faces a challenging period ahead, requiring the team to regroup and find ways to compensate for his loss in upcoming fixtures.