Shandong Taishan Banned from Asian Club Competitions for 2 Years

Shandong Taishan receives a 2-year ban from Asian club competitions and hefty fines for pulling out of an ACL match against Ulsan HD, citing player injuries. The club had previously faced controversy over fan behavior in a match against Gwangju FC.

Shandong Taishan has received a two-year ban from Asian club competitions due to their no-show in a match against Ulsan HD in the Asian Champions League Elite. The team withdrew just hours before the February 19 match, citing player injuries and an inability to field a team.

The Asian Football Confederation's Disciplinary and Ethics Commission handed Shandong Taishan a two-year ban from AFC club competitions, effective until the 2026/27 season. The club was also fined $50,000 and ordered to return a $600,000 participation fee and a $200,000 performance bonus to the AFC. Additionally, Shandong must pay $40,000 in compensation to Ulsan HD for damages and losses.

Chinese club Shandong Taishan has been banned from Asian club competition for two years for its no-show against South Korean side Ulsan HD in the Asian Champions League Elite in February.

The Chinese Super League side pulled out hours before the February 19 match, blaming… pic.twitter.com/d5MEyD1p52

— Alkass English (@alkassenglish) August 5, 2025

Shandong Taishan's pull-out from the match came days after the club took disciplinary action against its supporters for “inappropriate behavior” during a home ACL match against Gwangju FC. 

The controversy arose when fans displayed images of Chun Doo-hwan, South Korea's last military dictator, who was responsible for the violent suppression of the Gwangju uprising in May 1980. The uprising, which was led by pro-democracy protesters, resulted in hundreds of deaths and disappearances.

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