The Shandong Taishan Withdrawal Incident: A New Low for Chinese Football

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Shandong Taishan’s Abrupt Withdrawal: A Mystery Unfolds

On February 19, Shandong Taishan was scheduled to play against South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai in the final match of the AFC Champions League (ACL) East Asian group stage. The tournament, formerly known as the Asian Club Championship, features top-performing teams from national leagues across Asia. Despite China’s relatively weak club-level football performance, Guangzhou Evergrande once managed to win this championship, reflecting the somewhat modest overall competitiveness of Asian club football.

For Shandong Taishan, this match was crucial. A draw would have secured their place in the knockout stage, while their opponent, Ulsan Hyundai, had already been eliminated. However, just two hours before kickoff, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) unexpectedly released an official statement declaring that Shandong Taishan had withdrawn due to "personal reasons," officially classifying it as a forfeit. Shortly after, Shandong Taishan issued their own statement, claiming that their players had "suddenly fallen ill" and were unable to assemble a full squad, forcing them to withdraw from the match. They apologized to Ulsan Hyundai, their fans, and the AFC.

The decision stunned many. Ulsan Hyundai had already arrived at the stadium by bus, and fans—including Chinese supporters who had traveled to South Korea—had already taken their seats. In the end, stadium officials announced the cancellation and asked spectators to leave. Strangely, rather than going to the venue, Shandong Taishan immediately headed for the airport and left South Korea.

A Suspicious Statement: The Questionable Illness Explanation

Shandong Taishan’s withdrawal statement was met with widespread skepticism. Reports confirmed that the team had arrived in South Korea’s Busan on February 18 and had participated in a pre-match press conference without any signs of health issues. Furthermore, their training sessions had proceeded as usual, with no reports of illness. Then, just two hours before kickoff, they suddenly claimed to be unwell.

If the withdrawal had been due to legitimate health concerns, the club should have provided medical reports to the AFC to prove that this was an unavoidable circumstance, thereby avoiding the penalties associated with a forfeit. However, no such documentation was provided, leading the AFC to classify it as a voluntary withdrawal—an act considered a serious violation of competition rules. This fueled speculation that the team’s sudden decision was influenced by external factors rather than actual health concerns.

Tracing the Origins: A Brewing Controversy

To understand this incident, we must look back to February 11, when Shandong Taishan played against South Korea’s Gwangju FC in an earlier round of the ACL. As the first match after the Chinese New Year, the team placed great importance on it, creating an atmosphere of anticipation. The game ended with a 3-1 victory for Shandong Taishan, but what happened in the stands would later spark significant controversy.

During the match, some Chinese fans held up provocative banners and images of highly controversial figures, including former South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan, as well as North Korean leaders Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un. This act struck a deep nerve in South Korea, particularly in Gwangju.

Chun Doo-hwan is infamous in South Korea, especially in Gwangju, for his role in the violent suppression of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a pro-democracy movement that was brutally crushed by the military under his command. The massacre resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries, making it one of the darkest chapters in South Korea’s modern history. For the people of Gwangju, Chun Doo-hwan represents a figure of oppression and tragedy. Thus, for Chinese fans to display his image at a football match in Gwangju was perceived as a deliberate provocation and insult.

Following media reports in South Korea, Gwangju FC issued a strong condemnation, stating that this was not just an insult to their club but an affront to the entire Korean people. The Gwangju municipal government also launched an investigation, and a formal complaint was lodged with the AFC. Under mounting pressure, Shandong Taishan issued an apology on February 14 through the Chinese Consulate in Gwangju, promising strict action against the involved fans, including a lifetime ban from their home matches. However, Gwangju FC refused to accept the apology, insisting that the issue was far from resolved.

Why Did Shandong Taishan Withdraw?

As the controversy continued, Shandong Taishan arrived in Ulsan for their February 19 match. However, according to reports from journalists and Chinese fans in South Korea, Gwangju supporters were preparing to confront the team. On match day, dozens of buses carrying Gwangju fans arrived in Ulsan, where they surrounded Shandong Taishan’s hotel, holding up banners depicting images from the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, including the famous "Tank Man" photo. Their plan was to escalate the protest further during the match by displaying these politically sensitive images in the stands.

Faced with this situation, Shandong Taishan reportedly sought guidance from the Chinese Consulate in Gwangju, which allegedly advised them to withdraw from the match. The club quickly exited Ulsan, returning to China without participating in the game.

Severe Consequences for the Withdrawal

Shandong Taishan’s withdrawal is expected to carry serious consequences. The AFC has strict penalties for forfeiting a match, which include:

A fine of $50,000 to $200,000.

All of Shandong Taishan’s accumulated points in the tournament being erased.

A potential one- to five-year ban from AFC competitions.

The loss of all appearance fees and potential prize money, amounting to a financial setback of over $1 million.

Beyond the club level, this incident also damages the reputation of the Chinese Football Association (CFA). The CFA had already been working to repair its strained relationship with the AFC after China withdrew from hosting the 2023 Asian Cup. This latest debacle further complicates China’s standing in Asian football.

The Intersection of Sports and Politics

While sports are often said to be separate from politics, history has shown that they frequently intertwine. In international competitions, national rivalries, historical conflicts, and political disputes often surface. For many nations, sports serve as a stage for asserting national identity and pride.

The Gwangju Uprising is a deeply sensitive historical event for South Korea, much like the Tiananmen Square protests or the Nanjing Massacre for China. Any attempt to mock or exploit such historical wounds will inevitably provoke strong reactions. In this case, the actions of a few Chinese fans not only ignited controversy but also placed their own team in a vulnerable position.

Looking forward, this incident serves as a sobering lesson. If Chinese teams become known for withdrawing whenever political pressure arises, they risk being exploited in future international matches. More importantly, it raises the question: what should and should not be acceptable in the pursuit of victory? If the methods used to gain an advantage are themselves unacceptable, then perhaps they were never worth using in the first place.

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