Radonjic (centre) of Qingdao FC competes during the fifth-round Chinese Super League match against Chongqing. Photo: Xinhua
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https://scmp.com/sport/football/article/3174450/cash-strapped-qingdao-fc-pulls-out-chinese-super-league-ahead-2022 Football
Cash-strapped Qingdao FC pulls out of Chinese Super League ahead of 2022 season
- Qingdao FC has withdrawn from league over deep financial woes as the new season struggles to secure a launch date, after tough Covid-19 restrictions
- ‘I need to support my family, pay my mortgage, and now I’m borrowing money to live,’ says Cangzhou Mighty Lions defender Wang Zihao
Radonjic (left) of Qingdao FC competes for a header with Liu Yang of Cangzhou FC during the 2021 Chinese Super League season. Photo: Xinhua
Relegated Chinese Super League club Qingdao FC has confirmed it will withdraw from the domestic football league due to deep financial woes.
Just weeks out from the new season, CSL’s ongoing financial troubles continue unabated, with concern among players over unpaid wages reaching breaking point.
A newcomer to the CSL in 2020, Qingdao had struggled over the past two seasons with a shortage of funds and failed to cash in on several sponsorship deals.
In December, several of Qingdao’s senior players threatened to strike after failing to secure overdue salaries. Goalkeeper Zhao Shi has already left the club, signing with Sichuan Jiuniu.
“Considering the problems we are facing and the fact that we cannot carry on, we made the decision to pull out of the Chinese professional football league with great regret,” the club said in a letter submitted to the Qingdao football governing body.
The club had been relegated from the top division after losing to Zhejiang FC 1-0 on aggregate in a two-legged playoff in January.
In an unprecedented public move, Cangzhou Mighty Lions defender Wang Zihao posted a lengthy article on Weibo this week demanding the club pay its players’ salaries. Wang said he was owed more than one year’s wages.
Wu Jingui, head coach of Qingdao FC. Photo: Handout
“I need to support my family, pay my mortgage, and now I’m borrowing money to live,” he wrote.
“Everything you are doing now is hooliganism, and professional hooliganism. The Football Association asked us to reconcile in private first, and what you did is not to give money or freedom. Why can’t I get my hard-earned money back?”
The Chinese Super League had been planning to launch its new season this month, but strict Covid-19 lockdowns across multiple cities have postponed its start. The Chinese Football Association issued a memo to clubs saying they must seek approval from local governments for home and away games.
“All registered clubs and member associations are required to jointly report to and work with local governments to assist in epidemic prevention during home matches and work arrangements, submitting a written confirmation form … with an official seal within the time frame,” the CFA said.
(From left) Fernando Fei Nanduo, Anderson Talisca, Elkesen and Paulinho celebrate for Guangzhou FC against Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League. Photo: Xinhua
Meanwhile, financially struggling Guangzhou FC, formerly Guangzhou Evergrande, has announced further pay cuts and salary caps for its players.
In February, it terminated the contracts of five of its high-earning internationals – Brazilians Elkeson, Ricardo Goulart, Fernando Henrique, Alan Carvalho and Aloisio – to comply with the league’s new salary caps.
Marquee players have had their annual salary caps cut from 5 million yuan (US$780,000) to 600,000 yuan, while other first-team players’ starting salaries were cut to 60,000 yuan a year.