A "reported crisis concerning unpaid salaries and bonuses that was set to threaten next season's Chinese Super League" appears to have been "overexaggerated," with Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai SIPG "among those playing down the story in British media," according to Andrew Mullen of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. News emerged on Tuesday that 13 of the 16 CSL sides "could be forced to forfeit their participation in the competition next season after failing to pay their players properly" and had until Aug. 15 to resolve the problem with the Chinese FA or be "denied entry to the league." Beijing Guoan and Shandong Luneng joined Shenhua and SIPG in "allaying fears" over the '18 CSL season. SIPG said, "After verification, we've already paid the arrears in full in October last year and we've sent the related certificates to CFA." Shenhua admitted that it "may have some issues with outstanding payments" to its players' previous clubs, "but insisted any issues were not related to salaries and bonuses." A Shenhua press officer said, "We received the notice from CFA this morning. Our only problem lies in fees of joint compensation mechanism. It has nothing to do with the unpaid salaries and bonuses." Both Beijing and Shandong "claimed they had paid all their related fees in full," with suggestions Shandong paid the relevant Brazilian clubs the required fees, "but did not receive confirmation back in the form of a receipt" (SCMP, 7/25).
