Defending CSL champions Jiangsu FC withdraw from Asian Champions League following financial collapse

Kuala Lumpur: China’s Jiangsu FC have withdrawn from the Asian Champions League following their financial collapse, officials said Thursday, in another sign they are on the brink of being disbanded. Jiangsu won the Chinese Super League for the first time in November, but ceased operations last month after their struggling owners pulled the plug. The shock news provoked hand-wringing about the state of football in China, and prompted calls for a major rethink from top to bottom. Their Champions League exit comes after Chinese FA Cup winners Shandong Taishan — formerly known as Shandong Luneng — were booted out of Asia’s top club tournament in February after breaking rules related to finances. The Asian Football Confederation said the Chinese FA had confirmed Jiangsu’s withdrawal from the tournament. South Korea’s Pohang Steelers and Thailand’s Ratchaburi now advance automatically to Group G, avoiding a play-off, it added. The centralised matches for Group G will take place in Thailand from 21 June to 7 July. The east zone group games, including teams from China, Japan, Australia and South Korea, were last week delayed to June and July, from original dates in April, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The west zone matches, comprising mostly Middle Eastern sides, will go ahead as planned next month.