POLICE ARREST 10-YEAR-OLD OVER FOOTBALL VIOLENCE

HONG KONG - (AFP) - A 10-year-old boy was released on bail after being arrested for kicking an opponent in the head during a school football match in Hong Kong, police said Monday.

The violent incident sparked an ugly race row after a video was posted online showing the Caucasian boy kicking his 12-year-old Chinese opponent during an ill-tempered match a week ago.

Parents of the Asian boy filed a police complaint after the game between ESF Lions and Kitchee Escola descended into chaos, with fathers and the ESF coach engaged in an angry on-field altercation.

A video of the incident posted on YouTube has been viewed more than 344,000 times and generated a torrent of often racist commentary against 'gweilos', or Caucasians, in the southern Chinese city.

A police spokeswoman said the boy, whose name has not been released, was arrested on Friday for assault causing bodily harm. He was released on bail for an unspecified sum, but will have to report back to police in mid-April.