A Chinese hockey player was slammed for ‘endangering’ an opponent during the Olympic semi-final in Paris.

China produced a big upset to stun Belgium at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium and book their place in the women’s field hockey final.

The clash finished 1-1 in regulation time and China won a tense penalty shootout 3-2 as they look to claim their first medal in this event since 2008.

There was drama when the full-time whistle was blown as Chinese midfielder Fan Yunxia smashed the ball out of frustration into Delphine-Daphne Marien, causing the Belgian forward to drop to the floor and wince in pain.

The Belgium players and coaching staff were understandably furious, with many angrily approaching Fan, forcing the officials to intervene as boos rang out from the crowd.

Once order was restored the referee showed yellow cards to both Fan and Judith Vandermeiren – who appeared to shove the Chinese star during the melee.

‘There is the final whistle and oh, that’s unnecessary from Fan,’ the Eurosport commentator said. ‘She’s just hammered the ball and hit one of the Belgium players.

‘Everyone is coming out onto the pitch. That was reckless and dangerous, I think it was frustration more than anything else. I’m sure she didn’t mean to hit the player but she’s rifled it straight at her.’

Speaking to Fan via a translator, the referee said: ‘The player has hit the ball after the whistle and that is dangerous so it’s a yellow card.’

When the translator tried to protest the referee added: ‘It’s dangerous and she cannot do it.’

Explaining why Belgium’s Vandermeiren also received a yellow card, the referee said: ‘Number seven, it’s a yellow card because you’ve come in and shoved an opponent. You cannot do that.’

China face formidable Netherlands in the Paris 2024 Olympic final. The Dutch side are bidding to defend the title they won in Tokyo in their sixth successive final.

‘We did what we had to do,’ China coach Alyson Annan said. ‘These games you need to win. It doesn’t have to be pretty.

‘We’ve also practiced shootouts every single training for the last year and a half. Every training. We didn’t miss a training. That paid off tonight.

‘You cannot leave anything out on the field. You have to give it your all. They did that. We’re in the final.’

Belgium, meanwhile, now turn their attentions to a bronze medal match against Argentina.