Shandong Taishan Banned Two Years From AFC

Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan has been banned from Asian Football Confederation (AFC) club competitions for two years after withdrawing at the last minute from a scheduled AFC Champions League Elite match against South Korea's Ulsan HD in February 2025, citing 'serious physical discomfort' among players. The AFC imposed a $50,000 fine and ordered Shandong to return $600,000 in participation fees and $200,000 in performance bonuses, as well as pay $40,000 in compensation to Ulsan. Shandong's withdrawal disrupted the tournament, leading to an uneven number of matches played by other teams. The incident followed the club's ban on its own supporters for displaying images of South Korea's former military dictator Chun Doo-hwan related to the 1980 Gwangju uprising. Shandong will not be eligible to rejoin AFC competitions until at least the 2027-28 season. The AFC's decision highlights the severe consequences of the club's no-show and its impact on the tournament.