Zhang Jike's Prize Money Withheld

Zhang Jike will not receive any of his 45,000 euro paycheck after an ITTF Jury decided he would be fined the total for his unacceptable barrier breaking celebration. Absurd? I think so. Opinions please.

http://www.mhtabletennis.com/2014/10/ittf-fine-on-zhang-jike-no-less-than.html

eventhough he hasn't hurt anyone, he behaved like a freaking moron. this was just very disrespectful towards everyone. withholding the entire prize money is harsh, but understandable.


Edited by Trice - 10/26/2014 at 9:47pm

Is this just arbitrary decision or is there a written rule how much a player can be fined?

While I agree he needs to be punished for his unsportsmanlike behavior, fining 45k euros is an over kill. I don't understand why he was fined that much.

Given ZJK's status in the sport, I think the punishment is appropriate. I wish the ITTF would crack down on ridiculous noisy post point celebrations too. Today, at a tournament, I was privy to watch a match where a teenager was repeatedly using abusive language and hand signs towards his opponent. Another player was celebrating so loudly a young spectator asked whether it was legal to cho so loudly. Some of this stuff needs to be reigned in, and $5000 (or even $45,000) is nothing to someone like ZJK. What is important is that it shows that such behavior will not be tolerated. It is more lenient than actually banning him from events, IMO.

There might be objections to the procedures used to arrive at and execute the judgement, but I fear that a lot of TT bad behavior is already being built into the culture of the sport now.

NextLevel wrote: Given ZJK's status in the sport, I think the punishment is appropriate. I wish the ITTF would crack down on ridiculous noisy post point celebrations too. Today, at a tournament, I was privy to watch a match where a teenager was repeatedly using abusive language and hand signs towards his opponent. Another player was celebrating so loudly a young spectator asked whether it was legal to cho so loudly. Some of this stuff needs to be reigned in, and $5000 (or even $45,000) is nothing to someone like ZJK. What is important is that it shows that such behavior will not be tolerated. It is more lenient than actually banning him from events, IMO. There might be objections to the procedures used to arrive at and execute the judgement, but I fear that a lot of TT bad behavior is already being built into the culture of the sport now.

Just my opinion........not saying it's a right way to do it. I'd quietly send him a Thank you note + extra $5,000.

Trashing *anything*, especially stuff that isn't yours, is not a manner of celebration that should be condoned.  Yes, rabid sports fans sometimes do it after their teams win or lose matches, but we should frown upon such behavior.

NextLevel wrote: Given ZJK's status in the sport, I think the punishment is appropriate. I wish the ITTF would crack down on ridiculous noisy post point celebrations too. Today, at a tournament, I was privy to watch a match where a teenager was repeatedly using abusive language and hand signs towards his opponent. Another player was celebrating so loudly a young spectator asked whether it was legal to cho so loudly. Some of this stuff needs to be reigned in, and $5000 (or even $45,000) is nothing to someone like ZJK. What is important is that it shows that such behavior will not be tolerated. It is more lenient than actually banning him from events, IMO. There might be objections to the procedures used to arrive at and execute the judgement, but I fear that a lot of TT bad behavior is already being built into the culture of the sport now.

Sorry, NL, I can't agree with you here. ZJK was behaving strangely.   But by the standards of fines levied in other sports for violations a lot more serious than this, a $45,000 fine is ridiculously over the top.  I think the ITTF reaction to this is as big a crime as what ZJK did.  Actually it is exactly the same thing when you think about it -- a histrionic over-reaction to something that happened in the moment.  But they have the power, so they can get away with it.  I find it pretty disturbing. They can suspend him for a few events.  But taking away all the man's money?  Very very disturbing.  I wish the players would boycott the next event in response.  Professional athletes in any of the three major sports in the US would be all over this.  I think it reflects a lack of respect of ITTF for their players (again) that they think for a second that this is appropriate.  I am not saying that he should not get some punishment, but this was not that big a deal. 

I think the $45,000 fine was in the range of 'getting off lightly' to 'OK'.

slevin wrote: I think the $45,000 fine was in the range of 'getting off lightly' to 'OK'. I find any other scenario ridiculous. Look, I can imagine that the cost of making one of those was miniscule. I'm a player and not a  bureaucrat, lawyer or a crony trying to retain an ITTF job. And unlike others, I don't think $45k is a small amount (no matter how much ZJK made in sponsorship money). However, please put your ITTF management hat on (that's where you'll have to be to levy the punishment). The penalty for repeatedly kicking a sponsor's hoarding should be enormous (& after a World Cup final when the media's eyes are on you, even more so). An example should be made so that another player at another time would be completely discouraged in attempting such a thing. BTW: does DHS sponsor the CNT? In today's day and age, in the US at least, even the freakin' UFC would have a zero tolerance policy towards this (forget the NBA, NFL & the NHL).

If the NFL or NBA attempted a fine that out of proportion I think the Players' Unions would be (A) filing suit and (B) threatening a work stoppage.  They might accept a $10,000 fine for something like this.  Where was the due process?  Where is it written that they can take his winnings like that?  And what are they going to do with the money?  Yes an example should be made, but $45,000 is a crime too.

Table tennis players have no union, no representation that is effective and therefore now ability to push back.  Maybe this might get them to do organize something like that, but I doubt it.  Look, I get that you want to nip this kind of thing in the bud, but I haven't walked a mile in ZJK's shoes and don't know what drove this.

I disagree with NL that the right course was to announce that you are seizing his winnings so you can pull back later.  The correct course was to say that you were going to take some action and then wait a few days and decide what it should be, after a bit of discussion that should include the player's representatives to the ITTF.  A competent administrator -- be it sports or academics or business -- never makes a decision on something like that in the heat of the moment.  When you rush it you get it wrong. There was nothing about this that required a decision today or tomorrow.  Late next week would be fine.

As for the idea that ZJK is rich so it doesn't matter.  I think that is not really an argument.  And I don't know how rich he is because I have no idea how much he gets to keep of any of it including advertising endorsements.  It's not the US.

bogeyhunter wrote: Just my opinion........not saying it's a right way to do it. I'd quietly send him a Thank you note + extra $5,000. Just winning = ppl will talk about it for 2 days. Kicking barriers = ppl talk about it for weeks. Good or bad , TT needs this.  IMO, ZJK planned this. From ripping the freaking shirt, the kissing the podium, the standing on the table. Kinda his signature moves after winning big tournaments. Can't wait to see him after winning next Olympic!!!

I agree completely. It has to be put in context of ZJK earlier celebrations - the "problem" for him was what to come up with next, and he only found the poor cardboard barriers.

Nothing unsportsmanlike about this. He wouldn't have done this if he had lost. Totally different from Shibaev or even aggressive cho'ing.

ITTF under Weikert simply lacks humor. A yellow card and a slap on the head by Liu Guoliang would have been sufficient


Edited by amateur - 10/27/2014 at 12:48am

Baal wrote: ... I disagree with NL that the right course was to announce that you are seizing his winnings so you can pull back later.  The correct course was to say that you were going to take some action and then wait a few days and decide what it should be, after a bit of discussion that should include the player's representatives to the ITTF.  A competent administrator -- be it sports or academics or business -- never makes a decision on something like that in the heat of the moment.  When you rush it you get it wrong. There was nothing about this that required a decision today or tomorrow.  Late next week would be fine. As for the idea that ZJK is rich so it doesn't matter.  I think that is not really an argument.  And I don't know how rich he is because I have no idea how much he gets to keep of any of it including advertising endorsements.  It's not the US.

Edited by NextLevel - 10/27/2014 at 12:59am

If ZJK were to take this to the US court to appeal the fine, I bet his defense lawyers would have said that he was acted in self-defense from the blinding of the evil boards.

FatUglyCrazyKid wrote: Zhang Jike reminds me of that kid in elementary who tries too hard to be liked. Privately he talks and acts like a shy kid, not looking at people and mumbling his replies; in matches he plays in a calm, focused manner with displays of passion here and there, but not often.  Suddenly, after he finishes a match, he transforms into this emotional, passionate beast who rips his shirt, refuses to shake the hand of the victor, and vandalizes boards. This transformation is too drastic for me to believe it is real--rather, it seems to be an attention-seeking technique used  to establish his "bad-boy" image. He is a poor man's Lin Dan--both reserved and focused on court but rebellious off it. The difference is, Lin Dan is MUCH more well-accomplished, respects his rivals, and doesn't act like a 5-year old kid after he wins and loses. It's one thing to act bad-ass, another to completely disrespect your opponents, the venue staff and the authorities.<span style="line-height: 1.4;"> </span> Despite having won so many important tournaments, this man has security and confidence issues, and attempts to cover it up by projecting this image of himself which will prove to hurt him more than it promotes him.

you could be right


Edited by tom - 10/27/2014 at 1:18am