Club’s no-show hours before match against Korean side means they cannot play in Asian competitions up to 2026-27 season, are fined US$50,000
Chinese club Shandong Taishan have been banned from Asian club competition for two years for their no-show against South Korean side Ulsan HD in the Asian Champions League (ACL) Elite in February.
The Chinese Super League side pulled out hours before the February 19 match, blaming “serious physical discomfort” of players and saying they were unable to form a team.
The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) disciplinary and ethics commission said Shandong would not be able to play in the AFC’s club competitions up to and including the 2026-27 season editions, and fined the club US$50,000.
It also ordered Shandong to return a participation fee of US$600,000 and a performance bonus of US$200,000 to the AFC along with compensation of US$40,000 to Ulsan “in respect of damages and losses claimed” by the South Korean club.
