Tianjin Teda of China midfielder, John Mikel Obi has been forced to miss his side’s first match of the summer, after observing a match ban in their Chinese Super League clash against Shanghai Shenhua.
It would have been Mikel’s 12th consecutive start in the Chinese top-flight since the start of this season, but accumulated yellow cards saw him miss the game at Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai on Wednesday afternoon.
Mikel received his first yellow card of the season against TJ Quanjian on match day three and his second against Shanghai SIPG, after which he was then was booked against BJ Renhe before his last caution against Shandong Luneng on May 18.
Teda’s German boss, Uli Stielike earlier admitted during the pre-match press conference that he would not have the services of Mikel, as the ex-Chelsea midfielder was serving a mandatory match suspension.
The gaffer also stated that the Super Eagles captain also need more time to recover after representing Nigeria at the World Cup.
The 31-year-old star, though, is free to play again for the Tianjin-based side in their next game, when they face Chongqing Dangdai Lifan on Saturday.
