The mystery of whether these clubs were shortlisted or not was lifted, and the reasons behind it were revealed one by one. The core issue is that some of the clubs are in deep internal financial trouble, especially the unpaid wages of players and team members, which have not yet touched on disputes with external partners. Those clubs that have been publicized are still subject to a three-day publicity period, and face a reassessment crisis if they are exposed as having unpaid wages or debts during that time. Even if the debt issue is resolved, clubs will still need to strictly adhere to a series of entry criteria, including ladder construction and training bases, or else they will not be eligible for the new professional league season.
Through the announced list of clubs, there are still three clubs on the list in the Chinese Super League, six in the Chinese First Division, four in the Chinese Second Division, a total of 13 clubs in doubt. These 13 clubs are as follows: Super League: Wuhan Three Towns, Cangzhou Lions, Changchun Yatai. Middle A: Meizhou Hakka, Guangzhou, Guangxi Pingguo, Nanjing, Yanbian Longding, Heilongjiang Bingcheng. Middle B: Jiangxi Lushan, Hunan Xiangtao, Ganzhou Ruishi, Tai'an Tian'an. It is worth noting that in the FIFA registration ban disclosure system updated on December 2, Cangzhou Lions (4), Guangzhou (1), Jiangxi Lushan (3), Meizhou Hakka (1), Wuhan Sanzhen (11), Yanbian Longding (2) are still subject to the transfer registration ban. This means that these six clubs are facing even more difficult problems.
The access review, in which the CFA attaches great importance to whether clubs have unpaid wages and debts, aims to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of players, but it is only part of the access criteria for the new league season. According to the CFA announcement, the list will be publicized for three working days (December 3 to December 5, 2024). If the clubs are not reported during this period, the FA will regard their submissions as authentic and valid. At the same time, the FA will also conduct an in-depth review of other access conditions, and only if all conditions are met will the club finally gain access.
