I heard the players are sick? Four days after the cancellation of the match against Ulsan, the league's opening game was intact in Shandong…Was it because of Chun Doo-hwan's portrait

Feb 25, 2025

A Shandong fan who worked in the Shandong-Gwangju match on the 11th holds up a photo of former President Chun Doo-hwan. Gwangju defined this as an act of mocking and disparaging the entire Republic of Korea and urged an apology. SNS

photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association

Shandong Taishan, a Chinese Super League club that suddenly canceled the Asian Champions League match against Ulsan HD on the 19th due to "team health problems", played the weekend league game normally.

Shandong drew 0-0 with Henan in the opening home game of the 2025 Chinese Super League at the last Olympic Sports Center in Jinan, China on the 23rd. The two Korean leaders, Choi Kang-hee and Shandong coach Nam Ki-il, played a strategic match.The game took place four days after the eighth round of the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) league stage between Ulsan and Shandong, which was scheduled to be held at 7 p.m. on the 19th at Ulsan Munsu Stadium.

At that time, Shandong suddenly notified the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Ulsan about two hours before kickoff that it would cancel the game. The AFC confirmed that Shandong has no intention of participating in the league stage with Ulsan in accordance with Article 5, Paragraph 2 of the "ACLE" tournament regulations. It is deemed to have abstained from ACLE."

According to the Korea Professional Football Federation, Shandong told the AFC that it is difficult to play due to health problems of the team and coaches. Shandong said 'The health of some players in the team has deteriorated seriously. The team's medical staff said they could not form a team to play in the match against Ulsan. We deeply regret it and express our deepest apologies to the Asian Football Confederation, Ulsan, fans, and society at large.'"

◇photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association

When the AFC informed them that they could not miss only one game due to regulations and that they should give up the entire tournament, Shandong reportedly accepted it. As a result, Shandong's ACLE record this season was 'deleted'.

In China, Shandong responded that he felt burdened by the K-League club in the aftermath of the controversy over the portrait of Chun Doo-hwan.

At the Shandong match held at the Olympic Sports Center in China on the 11th, Shandong fans provoked Gwangju fans by showing photos of the late Chun Doo-hwan's face printed from the stands to the away supporters' seats.

Gwangju strongly opposed this and at the same time defined the incident as an act of mocking and disparaging the entire Republic of Korea beyond Gwangju Metropolitan City, not just a way of cheering for fans.

Shandong apologized in a statement saying, `The rude behavior of some spectators can never represent the Shandong Taishan Football Club and Taishan fans"We deeply regret and apologize for the damage caused to the Gwangju club and the Gwangju fans."

AFC SNS

Chinese media Shooting China reported on the 19th that the decision was most likely related to Shandong Fan's holding a photo of former President Chun Doo-hwan in a home game against Gwangju, adding that the incident caused a great disturbance after the game. Shandong was greatly shocked by the illegal activities of individual fans and imposed a permanent ban on Shandong's home stadium, it said.

Shooting China reported that Shandong gave a reward to the Gwangju club and public security authorities disciplined the related fans, but it would have been difficult for Shandong to participate normally in the match against Ulsan. As for the reason, 'because there can be consequences that are completely out of control' The Chinese Communist Party ordered the Shandong team to withdraw due to political sensitivity.

However, Shandong, who said 'can't form a team due to health problems', put in all the star stars Creezang, Zeka, and Baco in the opening game. Key goalkeeper Wang Dalay also started, but was sent off in the 23rd minute of the first half.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.