At the point of November 2, a report from Eastern Sports Daily revealed that numerous teams in the Chinese Super League are mired in debt. From the historic Beijing Guoan to the bottom-ranked Hebei team, which has lost 15 consecutive games, clubs are looking for ways to break the streak.
Oriental Sports Daily further noted that according to the CFA's Club Wage Arrears Settlement and Penalty Rules released earlier in the season, October 31st is the critical point for resolving the wage arrears issue. Clubs are required to settle 70% of their salary arrears as a way to ease their long-standing financial woes. Although many Chinese Super League clubs have prepared in advance, cash-strapped clubs such as Hebei and Wuhan Changjiang are still facing heavy difficulties.
It is reported that clubs like Guoan have submitted applications for player-approved deferrals to the FA on previous arrears clearance days. in October, they also proved their position through various materials and gained the understanding and support of the FA, demonstrating a positive attitude towards self-help. Meanwhile, Hebei team had negotiated with the local government to seek financial assistance after moving their home stadium to Datong, Shanxi Province. However, due to the FA's inter-provincial transfer regulations and uncontrollable factors, the Hebei team has not received substantial help so far. Similarly, Wuhan Changjiang FC is also facing financial difficulties in its operations, with its players demanding their salaries on social media and the club continuing to submit materials to the FA in the hope of gaining understanding and seeking a turnaround.
While it seems that clubs will have little problem completing the season, the year-end deadline in two months' time may see a number of clubs heading for bankruptcy or being forced out. Even for those clubs that have reached the mark, the future of their continued presence in the league will depend on the confidence given by the league's environment and the state of the investors themselves.
