Chinese football in crisis again as 7 clubs are barred from league over unpaid wages
- Three of the clubs played in last season’s Chinese Super League, while the rest were in League One
- Chinese FA disqualifies the clubs from league registration and tells their players they may unilaterally terminate their contracts
The Chinese Football Association has suspended seven clubs from involvement in the forthcoming league season for failing to pay wage arrears.
A statement on the governing body’s website on Thursday said that it had disqualified the clubs from league registration.
Three of the seven played in last season’s Chinese Super League: Wuhan Yangtze, Hebei FC and Guangzhou City – known between 2011 and 2020 as Guangzhou R&F.
The other four are Shaanxi Chang’an Athletic, Beijing BSU, Zibo Cuju and Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard, who were in League One last year.
Previously, on February 15, the CFA had given the clubs a month to resolve their salary arrears, saying that failure to do so would lead to ineligibility to take part in the league.
The statement added that players at the seven clubs were entitled to unilaterally terminate their contracts, while those who were on loan to them should return to their original clubs.
“We hope that clubs at all levels pay attention to long-term planning and rational management, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of their players, coaches and staff, and promote the sustainable development of professional leagues,” the CFA said.
Meanwhile, the country’s women’s national team drew 0-0 away to Switzerland in a friendly match as they continued their build-up to the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July and August.
China called upon most of their winning squad from last year’s Asian Cup, including forward Wang Shuang and midfielders Tang Jiali, Wang Shanshan and Zhang Linyan.
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Zhang struck a post in injury time, but that was as close as either team came to a breakthrough in Luzern.
She had already had a long-range volley stopped by Swiss goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann with an hour gone, before going close with another effort shortly afterwards. Tang Jiali then had a shot blocked in the 82nd minute.
Before the interval the home side had been on top, but Fabienne Humm was just off-target and Geraldine Reuteler had a shot saved by China goalkeeper Xu Huan.
