In the latest football storm, the explosive revelations from well-known journalist Miao Yuan and the popular figure "Who's Better at Selling Cute" were akin to a heavy bombshell, drawing widespread attention and discussion. They claimed that in the upcoming second batch of penalties, one would be directed at a club, with news suggesting that two Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs faced the crisis of being penalized points and demoted.
These two clubs were rumored to include a top-tier team, as such teams often have a massive fan base and exert significant influence throughout the league and society at large. Consequently, if they were to be penalized and demoted, an assessment of the impact would be essential. Upon hearing this news, fans quickly focused their attention on strong teams like Shanghai Port, Shanghai Shenhua, and Shandong Luneng.
However, just as rumors circulated that Shandong Luneng might face punishment and trended on social media, the team's official response was decisive. They confidently declared to fans on social media, "See you in the 2025 new season of the CSL," which served as a solid shield, greatly reducing the likelihood of Luneng being penalized and demoted. After all, if a team lacked confidence in dealing with the impending outcome, it would not dare to openly express its determination to continue playing in the CSL next season.
With Luneng out of the picture, the market's focus shifted more to Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua. Renowned media personality Xu Jiang, when answering fan questions, said, "The red team is fine; I don't know about the blue team." This statement indirectly reflected that Shanghai Port was currently in a safe state, and thus excluded from the list of penalized clubs. In contrast, Shanghai Shenhua appeared more passive due to the situation involving players like Qin Sheng.
Regarding Qin Sheng, his penalty situation has recently been a focal point of attention. According to revelations from "CSL Observer" and "Who's Better at Selling Cute," most parties involved in the previous storm received penalties ranging from six months to three years and six months. However, Qin Sheng's case is different; if he were only involved in intentional fouls (D ball) and match manipulation, his punishment might not differ significantly from others. The issue is that Qin Sheng now faces other behaviors, though these are personal and not directly related to the team.
The crux of Qin Sheng's current situation hinges on whether his fraud behavior can be successfully established. If the fraud conviction is confirmed, he could face a 13-year sentence. But as the saying goes, "Individual mistakes should not be paid for by the collective." While Qin Sheng's personal actions are under legal scrutiny, this does not necessarily mean that the Shanghai Shenhua team will be implicated. Moreover, another signal from the Football Association has set the tone for Shenhua's fate.
Recently, the Football Association established the China Football League Company to better manage related affairs. The association nominated four clubs, including Shanghai Shenhua and Shandong Luneng, to become directors and participate in management. This nomination is undoubtedly a strong response to the so-called "Shenhua demotion rumors." After all, if Shenhua were truly facing demotion penalties, it would be nearly impossible for them to enter the director list.
Although it seems unlikely that Shanghai Shenhua will be penalized and demoted, adjustments to the CSL structure are ongoing. Everyone is aware that Hebei Cangzhou failed to pass the previous entry criteria. This provided Nantong Zhiyun Club with the opportunity to replace them, allowing them to regain their CSL spot and return to the top flight in the new season. It's like in an intense game of chess where one side vacates a seat, and the other side takes advantage to fill it, full of variables and opportunities. Let's wait and see.