SMACK DOWN Football manager slaps referee then FAINTS ‘due to anger’ and is rushed to hospital in ambulance

THIS is the incredible moment a football manager SLAPPED a referee.

He then reportedly fainted “due to anger” and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.

The angry manager confronts the referee on the touchline

The manager slaps referee as he is shown a red card

The incident has caused outrage in China

Duan Xin then fainted due to anger as he left the pitch

The stunning scenes took place in China’s second tier at the weekend.

Rivals Nanjing City and Liaoning Shenyang City played out a heated football match, with the hosts winning 4-0.

But visiting manager Duan Xin was left far from happy after a penalty decision went against his side.

With the score only at 1-0, Liaoning failed to get a spot-kick on the stroke of half-time.

Xin’s coaching staff protested the call, with one receiving a yellow card as referee Chen Hao rushed to the sideline.

But this sparked a furious reaction from the boss, who stepped on to the pitch while appearing to make contact with the official.

Xin was then shown a straight red card for his bad behaviour.

However, the situation escalated as Xin then slapped the referee across the face before being dragged by staff and players towards the tunnel.

ground as his anger levels rose to boiling point.

The head coach was rushed to hospital, where tests showed he had passed out due to his blood pressure soaring.

And after getting the all-clear, Xin then returned to the team hotel before issuing an apology to referee Hao, with Chinese outlet Sohu reporting Xin put his “irrational” actions down to being “too excited.”

Fans quickly reacted to the incredible scenes on social media, with one saying: “Dude needs a chill pill.”

Another declared: “This is what I’m here for.”

One noted: “Game’s not gone.”

Another added: “Just a regular Monday.”