Chinese Super League’s Tianjin Tigers at risk as Teda pull financial support: reports
- Newly renamed Tigers reportedly looking for new investors ahead of 2021 CSL season
- Local government supported rivals Tianjin Quanjian for a season before club folded
Veteran Chinese Super League club Tianjin Tigers are under threat of disappearing unless they can secure new investment, according to reports in domestic media.
State-owned Tianjin Teda, the parent company of the newly renamed Tigers, are reported to have stopped funding the team ahead of the new season.
The club were known as Tianjin Teda for 23 years until last month, with new Chinese Football Association rules preventing clubs having corporate sponsors in their names.
It had been speculated that the new rule may see owners pull their funding, with Chinese Super League champions Jiangsu FC, previously Jiangsu Suning, reported in local media as looking for new investors.
Both Jiangsu and Tianjin were among teams reported to still owe players wages from last season, while several parent companies of CSL clubs have reported heavy financial losses.
Mainland outlet Soccer News said that the Tianjin club will need new investors to play the new season, with the club looking to the local government.
