Sun Jihai has insisted he does not plan to quit
international football despite being handed a five-game suspension
by FIFA.
The 30-year-old Manchester City defender was sanctioned after being
sent off from the bench during China's 1-0 defeat to Qatar in
Tianjin earlier this month.
Sun was also fined 7,000 Swiss francs (£3,450) for verbally abusing
Lebanese referee Talaat Najm as China went down to a controversial
penalty to scupper their hopes of reaching the final round of the
Asian qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.
"I was surprised when I heard of the suspension," said Sun. "I just
said some words, which are usually heard in the Premier League. I
did not verbally abuse him or insult him.
"I do know I did something wrong at the time. But in the past,
China has been disadvantaged by the referee's whistle.
"I have nothing to say as China is a constant underachiever in
soccer. But I still believe the referee at that match had problems
with his whistle."
The ban rules him out of the forthcoming Olympics in Beijing, where
he could have played as one of three over-age players, but Sun is
adamant he has no intention of retiring from the international game
yet.
"Yes, it will be a long time before I show up for the national team
again, but anything is possible," he said.
"I am not quitting yet and I still have the ambition to play for
the national team."
Sun looks set to leave Manchester City following the arrival of new
manager Mark Hughes but intends to continue playing in Europe next
season.
"I still hope to play in European leagues," he said.
"The 2008 Euros shows they are playing the best soccer in the
world."
