After being banned for life by the Chinese Football Association, players Yang Wenji and Sun Dong from the Jiangxi North Gate Football Club revealed through social media that they not only could not receive bonuses but their salaries were continuously delayed.
On September 10th, the CFA officially released its first list of lifetime ban punishments, with 44 individuals being banned for life, including Sun Dong. On the 12th, he posted on his personal Weibo account, stating that he joined the team in 2016 with an annual salary that did not exceed 50,000 RMB. Since 2021, the payments from the Jiangxi team were delayed, reducing his salary to 12,000 RMB before tax in 2022. The team’s owner promised a bonus of 100,000 RMB for winning a match, but none of the players received this bonus, and after the pandemic, they went 16 months without being paid.
Sun Dong expressed, “Not only were our salaries delayed, but even those who were paid 3,000 RMB a month were also unpaid. So, football players are not as well-off as migrant workers. Migrant workers have expenses, but when players try to arbitrate with the CFA, it only results in continuous delays and no resolution.”
He questioned what the annual guarantee fee from the CFA is for if it does not ensure the interests of players who are owed payments. Sun Dong further stated, “Which player doesn’t want to play football well and receive their salary regularly each month? But playing football is a livelihood, and even after retirement, it’s uncertain whether one can find work. If salary issues are not addressed, similar situations will continue to arise.” Sun Dong was accused of “engaging in improper transactions, manipulating football matches, and illicitly gaining profits,” resulting in a lifetime ban from the CFA and an 8-month prison sentence.
He concluded by stating that in hindsight, freedom is more precious than anything, even after receiving an 8-month prison sentence.
On the same day, Yang Wenji, who was also banned for life, shared a detailed account of the injustice he faced at the Jiangxi North Gate team. He mentioned that after joining the team in April 2022, he had a monthly salary of 12,000 RMB before tax with a bonus of 100,000 RMB for each victorious match, which he found satisfactory. However, he faced wage delays and the promised bonuses were continuously postponed until they were informed that they might not receive them at all.
“I toiled away in games without bonuses, and my salary was withheld for a long time,” Yang Wenji stated. He revealed that he only received payment during the CFA Cup around mid-November, receiving only 3 months’ salary, which was half a year overdue. Being in his thirties and needing to support his family, this situation was indeed unbearable for him.
He emphasized, “Some may think that a salary of 12,000 RMB is not low, but for players, the period to earn money until retirement is limited, ranging from 3-10 years. After retirement, income drastically decreases to a few thousand RMB or even unemployment. I contemplated ways to increase income during this time, but I realized that I am skilled only in playing football and nothing else.”
Yang Wenji disclosed that in lower-level clubs, wage delays are a prevalent issue, where payments are made for a few months, followed by wage arrears accumulating until the end of the league season. The CFA continuously urged clubs to settle the players’ overdue salaries before the commencement of a new season. When players were required to sign a salary confirmation for admission (as demanded by the CFA), clubs would offer payment for two months to have them sign. Otherwise, if they failed the admission, they would not receive any payment. However, even after admission, the clubs would still not pay those two months’ salary for that year.
“We players have no one to turn to. When contacting the CFA, their response was for players to negotiate with the club.” If players wish to leave, gain their free agent status, they must sign a no-debt dispute agreement with the club. He expressed, “Looking back now, it’s really foolish. For 44,000 RMB, not only did I disappoint the fans, but I also got a 3-month probation and a criminal record.”
He stated that he accepts all punishments willingly and questioned, “Delaying salaries is illegal, and if we break the law, we bear the responsibility. But why don’t the clubs that violate the law and the CFA that tolerates these violations pay the price or face the harshest punishments in the industry?”
Recently, many banned players have spoken out about their experiences. Aside from Yang Wenji and Sun Dong, Sun Zhunhao, who previously played for Shandong Taishan, claimed coercion by the police, resulting in a forced confession to expedite relief. Players who received a 5-year ban also expressed dissatisfaction with the punishment and intend to appeal.
For more information:
Former footballer Sun Zhunhao, banned for life by the Chinese Football Association, claims forced confession by the police.