Enough is enough: Shanghai Shenhua demand end to Carlos Tevez rumours amid so-called ‘wage crisis’
British newspaper claim 2018 Chinese Super League season is under threat over unpaid salaries and bonuses but clubs and Chinese Football Association continue to hit back
Shanghai Shenhua have slammed a report suggesting Argentinean Carlos Tevez is being paid his mega salary with the Chinese Super League side while teammates are not, with the Chinese Football Association “ruling out” the headline-grabbing so-called “wage crisis” in China.
Tevez joined Shenhua at the start of the 2017 season on a reported salary of US$800,000 per week, which this week led media in Britain to confuse a request from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to ensure clubs finances are in order ahead of any potential participation in next year’s AFC Champions League with a situation that threatens the future of 13 of the 16 clubs in the top-flight.
And with the Mirror following up Tuesday’s report that the 2018 Super League season was under threat after clubs failed “to pay their players properly” ahead of next month’s AFC deadline with a claim that “Shanghai have ensured the ex-West Ham, Manchester United and Manchester City striker is one player who received his wages on time”, Shenhua were forced to respond to the latest rumour surrounding the high-profile striker.
“Since Tevez joined Shenhua the rumours never stop,” Shenhua vice president Bruce Zhou told the Post.
“To be honest, we are tired of refuting rumours now. The sensible people won’t believe this for even a second.”
Shenhua questioned the authenticity of the article, with press officer Ma Yue adding: “How could this be true? We are not the club [from] several years ago.”