Tianjin Quanjian forced to move AFC Champions League home game 2,000km away to Macau
Northern city is hosting annual World Economic Forum on September 18, a date that marks a flashpoint in China-Japan relations
The club remained positive despite being disappointed they could not play the game in Tianjin, referring to Macau as “home” because it is part of China, despite being over 1,900 kilometres from the northern Chinese city.
While no reasons have been given, the annual World Economic Forum will be taking place in Tianjin from September 18 to 20 and with the Chinese club having failed to find an alternative stadium in a nearby city, the game has been moved to a “neutral venue” in accordance with the AFC’s rules,.
Users on both English-language and Chinese social media referenced that the game will be played on the date that commemorates the Mukden Incident.
On September 18, 1931, Japanese forces caused an explosion close to a railway near modern-day Shenyang before pinning the blame on Chinese dissidents.
The Japanese Imperial Army then staged a full-scale invasion of northeastern China, then known as Manchuria.