14 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Team bus of CSL leaders Beijing Guoan seized over debt issues, players forced to hire bikes
Chinese Super League (CSL) leaders Beijing Guoan have had their team bus seized, forcing players to return from training using shared bikes, as the club's parent company struggles with billions of yuan of debt.
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Pictures on social media on Friday showed the team bus being towed away with its door bearing a seal from the Beijing Intermediate People's Court.
Images then started circulating on Chinese social media showing three of the club's foreign players hiring shared bikes and riding away from the training complex wearing their kit.
The real estate company Sinobo Group holds a 64 per cent stake in Beijing Guoan and reportedly owes more than 3.68 billion yuan (US$502 million).
Despite the off-field issues, Guoan invested heavily in the build-up to the 2025 season, including bringing in former Barcelona manager Quique Setien to lead the team, as well as seven first-team players.
Three of the club's foreign players have been pictured hiring shared bikes. Photo: Handout
At the halfway stage of the current CSL season, Guoan have yet to lose a match, winning 10 and drawing five to top the league on goal difference. Shanghai Shenhua are second.
