Soccer fan accident witness appeal

Supporters of Shanghai Shenhua Football Club are appealing for anyone who saw a hit-and-run driver knock down a well-known fan early on Saturday morning to contact police.

Wu Zhaoming, the chief drummer of the Shenhua Lanbao Fans' Club, suffered serious head injuries in the accident near Hongkou Football Stadium and was in a coma last night.

Hongkou District police investigating the incident say no witnesses have been found and no surveillance camera captured valuable images of the suspect's car.

"So far, it's proving difficult to find the suspect," said a Jin Rao, director of Lanbao Fans' Club. "We're in touch with police. They're collecting information and we'll try our best to help."

Wu was alone when the accident happened just after midnight on Friday on Dalian Road W., near Dongtiyuhui Road, Jin said.

He was crossing the road when he was hit by a vehicle.

"Wu was rushed to hospital, where they found someone to contact on his cell phone," Jin told Shanghai Daily.

The fans started an online campaign, posting information and photographs of Wu, trying to find witnesses and encouraging him to wake up.

"Buddy, come on, wake up, Shenhua won!" a fan posted after Shenhua beat Tianjin Teda in a Chinese Super League match last night.

Posts containing Wu's name had been retweeted more than 700 hundred times by yesterday. Shenhua players, including Yu Tao and Dong Lei, retweeted posts offering support for Wu.

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