A CHINESE World Cup commentator has caused an uproar in the country after he shouted "Long Live Italy" and declared "I don't like Australia" after Italy knocked out Australia with a last-minute penalty in Cologne, Germany, on Monday (June 26).

Huang Jianxiang, a commentator for national broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), apologized to soccer fans on CCTV yesterday evening.

Huang lost his cool as Francesco Totti scored a penalty in the last minute of stoppage time to give 10-man Italy a 1-0 win over Australia in the second round of the World Cup.

The 38-year-old Huang shouted himself hoarse after Italian defender Fabio Grosso tumbled over Lucas Neill's challenge in the Australian box. As Totti blasted home the penalty, Huang shrieked in excitement.

The online discussion forums of popular Chinese Web portals such as www.sina.com and www.sohu.com were flooded yesterday with messages about Huang's outburst. More Web surfers blasted Huang than those siding with him.

"Huang went too far," said a message on Sina. "He shouldn't extol an ugly-playing Italian team and ridiculed the brave Australian squad."

As Australia coach Guus Hiddink disputed Italy's last-gasp penalty which killed Australia's World Cup dream, Huang said Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo's decision was wise.

"It was an undisputed penalty," shouted Huang in the last minute of the game.

"Grosso made it! He made it! Don't give Australia any chance! Great Italian left defender. Grosso alone represents the long and deep tradition of Italian soccer. He is not fighting alone.

"Totti! He is about to take the shot. He shoulders the expectations of the whole world.

"It's a goal! Game over! ... Italy didn't fall to Hiddink's team this time (Hiddink had led South Korea to oust Italy in the 2002 World Cup). Happy birthday to Paolo Maldini (born on July 26)! Long Live Italy!"

Huang then turned to the Socceroos: "Go home! But they don't need to fly back to Australia which is too far away. Most of them live in Europe. Bye-bye."

Huang was unrepentant in the post-game satellite linkup with the Beijing newswroom.

"I am a human being, not a machine, and I can't be impartial all the time," he said.

"Australia reminded me of a lousy team which eliminated China in the World Cup qualifiers in 1981. Australia is just like New Zealand team that beat us in 1981.

"It (Australia) is full of naturalized Australians who play and live in Britain. I don't care about the Australian team and don't want to see Australia have good results in the World Cup.

"Australia (which has joined the Asian Football Confederation) now will fight for an Asian World Cup berth and it may not be good enough to handle South Korea and Japan. But it will very likely take advantage of the Chinese team. So I don't like it."

Beijing newsroom host Zhang Bin tried several times to interrupt Huang to avoid further damage, but Huang rattled on until the linkup was severed.

Zhang then went into damage control mode, praising the hard-fighting Australians and their coach Hiddink during the rest of the program.

Even though Chinese soccer is far from world-class, the country's soccer media is as racy as its English and German counterparts.

Chinese TV hosts openly voice their preferences. CCTV reporters and commentators usually favor traditional powers such as England, Italy, Argentina and Germany. In the 2002 World Cup, CCTV hostess Sheng Bin stunned millions of Chinese viewers after openly weeping at Argentina's early exit.

China's sports media took off after the nation launched a professional soccer league in 1994 and began broadcasting English and Italian soccer on State television.

A newfound passion for the sport, combined with rising incomes, fuelled demand for more colorful and informative news.

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Editor: Wing