Chinese football association warns clubs about Aubameyang 'bidding war'

Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande reportedly prepared to pay €70m for Borussia Dortmund attacker, trumping offer by rivals Beijing Guoan

epa06333458 (FILE) Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reacts during the UEFA Champions League group H soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and APOEL Nicosia in Dortmund, Germany, 01 November 2017 (reissued 16 November 2017).  Aubameyang will not be in the squad for the German Bundesliga match against Stuttgart after being left out for disciplinary reasons.  EPA/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL
Powered by automated translation

China's football association (CFA) warned on Tuesday that it would punish teams who flout its transfer rules, following reports two clubs are battling to sign striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Chinese Super League (CSL) champions Guangzhou Evergrande are reportedly prepared to pay at least €70 million (Dh307.3m) for the Borussia Dortmund attacker, trumping an offer by rivals Beijing Guoan.

The CFA last year introduced a 100 per cent tax on incoming foreign transfers in an effort to encourage Chinese clubs to invest on local youth players, but media reports suggest both clubs are prepared to either incur the penalty or find a way to circumvent it.

Evergrande denied they were pursuing Aubameyang - without explicitly naming him - but that was not before the CFA made plain its anger.

The CFA too did not name Aubameyang but made a clear reference to the 28-year-old striker and Evergrande and Guoan.

______________

Read more

Fifa in desperate need of World Cup revenue result

Timeline of Carlos Tevez's fall from grace in China

China's heavyweight warns of market imbalance

______________

"The news of two clubs suspected of engaging in a bidding war on a transfer has caused social concern," it said in a statement, adding that it had asked them to explain.

"In the next step of the investigation, if any violations are found, the Chinese FA will handle this seriously according to law and regulation."

Stressing that the 100 per cent surcharge was applicable in the current winter transfer window and in the year ahead, the CFA warned: "We will watch closely every club's transfer movement in the new season and increase scrutiny.

"The Chinese FA will seriously investigate and will not tolerate any violation or any loophole-exploiting behaviour."

The hard-hitting missive is the latest salvo in the Chinese government's war on "irrational" overseas investments - a word also used in the CFA statement - as football authorities attempt to rein in CSL clubs who have shelled out record amounts for foreign stars.
A year ago, Shanghai SIPG smashed the Asian transfer record to sign Chelsea's attacking midfielder Oscar for €60m.

Oscar arrived in Shanghai in January, 2017 amid plenty of fanfare. AFP
Oscar arrived in Shanghai in January, 2017 amid plenty of fanfare. AFP

However, with the 100 per cent levy in place last summer, Tianjin Quanjian secured French striker Anthony Modeste from Cologne on a two-year loan deal, rather than buying him outright.

Dortmund have dismissed the Aubameyang transfer talk as speculation, but Chinese media has been filled for several days with multiple reports that a deal has been reached for him to move to Fabio Cannavaro's Evergrande after the Bundesliga season.

Soon after the CFA statement, Evergrande hit out at "the purely fictitious" reports and threatened legal action.

"We will, as we always have, strictly follow the FA's regulations on transfers," the club said.

"We reserve our legal right to pursue those responsible for the inaccurate reports."