Former Hapoel Be'er Sheva Striker Faces Suspension After Violent Incident in China

Cameroonian striker Paul Arlund Gerita, formerly of Hapoel Be'er Sheva, has been suspended for five games following a serious incident while playing for Shenzhen Youngor in China's second division. Gerita, who had scored ten goals in nine appearances and was the team's top scorer, struck opposing player Jin Qiang on the back of the head during a match against Suzhou Dongwu. The referee issued a direct red card for the violent conduct. After reviewing the incident, the Chinese Football League's disciplinary committee confirmed the violent behavior and imposed a five-game suspension along with a fine of 40,000 yuan (approximately 18,000 shekels).

Following the suspension, Gerita was also removed from Shenzhen Youngor's squad for the remainder of the season, a decision he criticized as excessively harsh. In a social media statement, Gerita apologized to the club and fans for the red card but expressed disappointment over being excluded from the team despite his status as top scorer. He affirmed his respect for the club's decision and his commitment to continue scoring goals wherever he plays, maintaining a positive mental outlook and looking forward to returning to the field soon.

Gerita joined Hapoel Be'er Sheva from Al Faisaly in Saudi Arabia and played 33 matches for the Israeli club, scoring five goals and contributing to their State Cup victory in the 2025/26 season.