Chinese Super League Clubs In Trouble For Not Paying Salaries

Players who moved to play in the Chinese Super League in the past year have apparently been owed salaries for a while. This is according to a report by UK’s Mirror which listed thirteen clubs to have defaulted from the big spending league.

Read Also: Chinese Super League: Ten African A-List Players Playing Far East

The teams include Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Guangzhou Evergrande who are the current champions and Shanghai SIPG whose squad includes players like Hulk, Ricardo Carvalho, and Oscar.

Others are Shanghai Shenhua, Beijing Guoan, Changchun Yatai, Chongqing Dangdai Lifan, Hebei China Fortune, Guangzhou R&F, Jiangsu Suning, Liaoning Whowin, Shandong Luneng Taishan, Tianjin Quanjian and Tianjin TEDA.

These clubs are now facing disciplinary action and could be forced to forfeit their place in the competition next season for failing to pay players properly.

They have each been issued an ultimatum to settle their arrears by August 15 and send proof to the Chinese Football Association (CFA) or face being denied entry to the league.

The inquiry does not stop in the top tier as five lower league sides have also been accused of failing to pay some of their players’ salaries and bonuses.

League One clubs Beijing Renhe, Dalian Transcendence, Shanghai Shenxin and Shijiazhuang Ever Bright. The other one is a league two outfit called Qingdao Jonoon.

See Also: Cristiano Ronaldo Rejects 300 Million Euro Move To China – See Why

This controversy comes six months after the Chinese government pointed out possible financial problems in football club dealings.

China’s General Administration of Sport accused teams of “burning money” on foreign players instead of using home grown talent and investing in youth development.

The administration then created restrictions to curb big spending from clubs. The restrictions were designed to tackle signing bonuses, shadow contracts, and other violations. It also spelled out punishments for clubs, players or agents that fail to abide by the rules.