Mikel, Ighalo & Martins Face China Exit Over Unpaid Wages

Mikel’s romance with Chinese football could end all too soon after his club and that of Ighalo and Martins were fingered as failing to pay the salaries and bonuses of their players.

The stay of Nigeria internationals Obafemi Martins, Odion Ighalo and John Obi Mikel in the Chinese Super League could come to an abrupt end as their respective clubs – Shanghai Shenhua, Changchun Yatai and Tianjin Teda – and nine others could be forced to forfeit their participation in the competition next season after failing to pay their players properly.

The clubs in question have been told they must settle their arrears by August 15 and send proof to the Chinese Football Association (CFA) or face being denied entry to the league.

The teams named in a July 11 correspondence between the CFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) include current champions Guangzhou Evergrande as well as big spending Shanghai SIPG, whose squad boasts the likes of Hulk, Ricardo Carvalho and £60million midfielder Oscar.

Shanghai Shenhua, who have £615,000-per-week Carlos Tevez and Martins on their books, are also among the teams named.

Five lower league sides have also been accused of failing to pay some of their players’ salaries and bonuses.

Of the 16 top tier sides, only Yanbian Fude, Henan Jianye and Guizhou Hengfeng have no unmet financial obligations.

This controversy comes six months after the Chinese government moved to intervene in club spending.

The country’s top sports governing body accused teams earlier this year of the “grave phenomenon” of “burning money” on foreign players instead of investing in youth development.

Clubs accused of failing to pay players properly:

Super League: Shanghai Shenhua, Shanghai SIPG, Beijing Guoan, Changchun Yatai, Chongqing Dangdai Lifan, Hebei China Fortune, Guangzhou Evergrande, Guangzhou R&F, Jiangsu Suning, Liaoning Whowin, Shandong Luneng Taishan, Tianjin Quanjian, Tianjin TEDA.

League One: Beijing Renhe, Dalian Transcendence, Shanghai Shenxin, Shijiazhuang Ever Bright.

League Two: Qingdao Jonoon.

Source:- FCNaija