On December 28th, Beijing time, the official Weibo account of Cangzhou Mighty Lions, a Chinese Super League club, responded to rumors of its dissolution. The club stated that it has reached a settlement agreement with the players regarding their reasonable demands for unpaid wages, and the funds for the settlement have been secured, awaiting final approval from the Chinese Football Association (CFA).
Subsequently, all the players of Cangzhou Mighty Lions signed an open letter addressed to the CFA. In the letter, the players expressed that the funds have been received, and the club and the players have reached a reconciliation. They thanked the CFA for its strict review process and requested not to revoke the team's entry qualification due to a one-day delay in the arrival of funds.
On the evening of December 20th, the CFA announced the second batch of clubs that had completed debt repayment, with Cangzhou Mighty Lions included in the list. However, after the announcement, as many as ten current or former players of Cangzhou Mighty Lions publicly questioned the club's actions. Players such as Oscar, Yan Zihao, Zheng Dalun, Mo Xuchen, Wang Peng, Wen Da, Zheng Kaimu, Guo Hao, Shao Puliang, and Sun Qinhan posted on social media or reposted messages criticizing the club for unpaid wages. Foreign player Oscar, who has left the club, even claimed that he had not received any payment.
After a week of silence, Cangzhou Mighty Lions finally made a public response. With the strong support of the Cangzhou Municipal Party Committee and Government, the club has reached a settlement agreement with the players involved in unpaid wages regarding their reasonable demands. The funds for this part of the settlement have been secured, and the club has truthfully reported this objective situation to the CFA for communication regarding entry qualifications. Currently, Cangzhou Mighty Lions is waiting for the CFA's final determination on this matter.
With the open letter from all the players to the CFA, Cangzhou Mighty Lions is hopeful for a "revival," transitioning from the brink of dissolution to a smooth entry into the league.
Last season, Cangzhou Mighty Lions narrowly avoided relegation by a margin of two points. It is reported that the CFA will announce the final league entry list in early January.