`He's mad, he's Chinese he knocks down referees!'.

Byline: Chris Beckett 

CARDIFF'S newest football Fan is so popular, he has won man-of-the-match awards even when he's not playing! At his previous club Dundee, Fan Zhiyi would regularly scoop the best player awards for matches where his boots didn't even touch the pitch.

A spokesman from the club said their online polls would be flooded every week with thousands of votes for Fan coming from Chinese e-mail accounts.

Once, it got so bad that Dundee had to redesign their supporters' website to cope with extra demand.

Since Sam Hammam swooped for the Chinese international on Monday night, City supporters have been keen to find out more about the Far East's answer to Beckham.

In particular, the capital's Chinese community are very enthusiastic about Fan's arrival.

President of Cardiff's Chinese Student and Scholar Association Dr Xu Xuebiao said: ``Fan is very popular in China and especially in Shanghai, which is also my home city.

``They will be watching his progress very closely.''

Sheng Zhou, a research assistant in computer science at Cardiff University, said: ``In one season in China, he was asked by his club to play centre forward and he became the top scorer in the league that year!

``I believe his move to Cardiff is very good news for this city for many reasons. Many more Chinese people will know Cardiff and more Chinese students will come to Cardiff as well.'' Fan first arrived in Britain four years ago when he and team-mate Sun Jihai left Shanghai Shenhua to join Crystal Palace in a pounds 1m deal.

Having impressed the London club with his skills, he joined Dundee before the start of last season.

Neil Witherow, editor of Crystal Palace fanzine Palace Echo, said: ``He took a while to adjust to the British game but he became the rock of our defence.''

Neal also revealed that, just like Becks, Fan's passion for the game had occasionally seen the red mist descend.

``In his debut season, Fan was dismissed twice for laying hands on referees and he's always at risk of being sent off because he makes so many last-ditch tackles,'' he said.

WHAT TO CHANT AT NINIAN PARK

WITH Fan Zhiyi (pronounced Fan Zee-yee) soon to tread the hallowed turf at Ninian Park, here are some useful chants and phrases to show him your support.

# ``Man of the Match is Fan Zhiyi'' - ``Zui JiaQiu Yuan Shi Fan Zhiyi''

# ``The referee needs glasses''--- ``Cai Pan Xu Yao Dai Yan jing''

# ``Come on Bluebirds'' - ``Jia You, LanNiao'',

# ``Great goal, Earnie'' ---"Hao Qiu Earnie"

# ``Do the Ayatollah'' - ``Xiong Qi''

What to chant: ``All the way from China, over land and sea, he came to play for Cardiff and his name is Fan Zhiyi.''

What NOT to chant: ``He's mad, Chinese he pushes referees, Fan Zhiyi.'' (earned during his fiery first year at Crystal Palace).

FANS' MESSAGES

``My feeling of the Cardiff signing is divided. Some might say it's sweet and sour!

Also I think he's fu yung!''

Anonymous Bluebirds fan``Inspired signing, well done Sam''. Peter Parfitt, Bluebirds fan

``The signing of China star Fan Zhiyi is a good one for the club. He will add experience and cover at centre back.''

Richard Mann

``What an incredible signing! This really proves what an ambitious club Cardiff City is. There's no stopping us for promotion now. '' Graham Davidson, City fan

``We never thought we'd see a player with 100 caps turning out at Ninian Park. Welcome to Fan Zhiyi - we hope he and the rest of the lads will be playing in Division One next season.''

Steve Roberts, Cardiff

``Nice one Sam Hammam and nice one City. We're a big club and this just proves it.''

Martin Lewis, Roath, Cardiff