The Chinese Football Association (CFA) posted a statement on Tuesday urging 18 professional Chinese football clubs to clear off their debts by August 15.
Of the 18 clubs listed in the statement, the 13 Chinese Super League clubs include Beijing Guoan, Changchun Yatai, Chongqing Lifan, Hebei China Fortune, Guangzhou Evergrande, Guangzhou R&F, Jiangsu Suning, Liaoning Whowin, Shandong Luneng, Shanghai Shenhua, Shanghai SIPG, Tianjin Quanjian and Tianjin Teda.
In the statement the CFA stated that if any Chinese Super League (CSL) club failed to pay off their debts on player transfers, salaries or bonuses, it would face exclusion from next year's CSL.
The CFA's statement follows a similar letter sent by the Asian Football Confederation, to the CFA which stated that clubs had to clear all outstanding payments by 31 August or face exclusion from next year's Asian Champions League.
Some of the 13 clubs denied the CFA’s claim with Shanghai SIPG saying they had paid all of the debts last October in a social media statement while Jiangsu Suning, Shandong Luneng and Beijing Guoan issued similar statements.
Proofread by Raymond Fitzpatrick