April 6, Qingdao Morning Post reporter disclosed that the newly relegated Qingdao Yellow Sea Football Club from the Super League, decided to give up submitting the qualification, no longer competing in the Central League.
In March, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced the entry list for the third-tier professional league, and Qingdao Yellow Sea, who failed to secure relegation last season, was among them, causing many fans to breathe a sigh of relief. However, despite gaining entry, it is still unknown whether Qingdao will be able to appear in this season's Chinese League A. On April 8, this suspense will be revealed.
The CFA stipulates that access qualification is not equal to participation qualification. Clubs are required to submit their letters of participation by April 8, and the CFA will determine the final teams accordingly. As of now, it is not yet clear whether Qingdao will submit a letter of participation.
Qingdao, a newcomer to the Chinese Super League, has experienced many ups and downs in the 2021 season. After failing to secure relegation, the investors had a long term plan for the club. At the end of the season, the first-team was delayed and the players received a notice to "find their own home". The club also moved from Guoxin Stadium to Baishawan Stadium and issued a statement on the status of the club.
The note lists the problems encountered by the club during the two years, such as when Yellow Sea Group took over the former club (Qingdao Hainiu Soccer Salon), the former shareholders hid the huge amount of historical debts and lawsuits, which led to the club to cope with the debt lawsuits for a long time, affecting the normal operation.
Clubs faced significant difficulties with the 2020 outbreak, and the introduction of the FA's "neutral name" policy further blocked clubs' access to finance. Delays in sponsorship payments have also had an impact on team operations.
It is worth mentioning that Qingdao Huanghai women's football team, which has a "sister relationship" with Qingdao, has basically confirmed that it will withdraw from the new season of the Women's Football League A. On March 31, Qingdao Huanghai Soccer Salon Company Limited was officially established, with a registered capital of 1 million yuan.
All the signs show that Qingdao seems to have no intention to participate in the 2022 season of the Central League, and this attitude has been tacitly recognized by the senior figures of the club. Unless there is a major change, the club will not submit a letter of participation and voluntarily give up the qualification of the Central League. According to the plan, the newly established Yellow Sea Club will shift its focus to youth training.
