Over 20 Report Serious Wage Arrears at Dalian Kun Cheng: Foreign Players Paid, Domestic Players Left Waiting

The wage arrears issue at China League One club Dalian Kun Cheng has recently escalated. According to the latest report from Football News, more than 20 players, coaches, and staff members have reported the club to the Chinese Football Association (CFA), highlighting serious delays in salary payments.

Notably, Dalian Kun Cheng was previously included in the CFA’s 2026 league participation list. However, over the past two days, increasing numbers of insiders have come forward: first players took to social media to expose unpaid salaries and bonuses, and then some coaches and staff joined in. As of today, over 20 individuals have filed complaints. Several players revealed that for the last six matches of the 2024 China League Two season, the club promised a total bonus of 3.3 million RMB but only paid 1.2 million, leaving 2.1 million RMB unpaid. Additionally, a separate promotion bonus of 1 million RMB has yet to be disbursed.

Players also suspect that the club may have forged signatures on salary confirmation forms to mislead the CFA. While bank statements were submitted to show payments, it remains unclear if the money actually reached the players. Domestic players expressed frustration at perceived favoritism: “Foreign players always receive salaries on time, but Chinese players’ wages have been delayed since the second half of the year, sometimes split into partial payments.”

Reports indicate that Dalian Kun Cheng received 17 million RMB in annual support from the government and sports bureau, including 10 million RMB for the China League One season operations. After receiving complaints, the CFA contacted the club for additional documents, but direct dialogue with the complainants has not yet occurred. Fans worry Dalian Kun Cheng could face a fate similar to Guangzhou FC, which dissolved last year.