Dalian Shide striker Zoran Jankovic has been fined 6,000 yuan (about 775 US dollars) by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) for spitting at a player from Changsha Jinde during a China Super League (CSL) match last week.

In addition, the Bulgarian international was also banned from six matches of the Super League.

The punishment was imposed after the CFA found Jankovic guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct, the first such case since the new season kicked off last Saturday.

CFA official Ma Chengquan said that discipline is a key issue for the sport's governing body, and that all infractions will be seriously punished.

The spitting incident took place in the 75th minute of Sunday's match, after Jankovic was tackled by Xu Bo of Changsha Jinde. The Bulgarian was then sent off by the referee.

Dalian won the match 1-0 with a free kick from Jankovic in the 61st minute.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2007)