The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) welcomes the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)’s decision to dismiss the appeal lodged by Shandong Luneng FC (CHN) against the AFC Entry Control Body (ECB)’s decision of February 08, 2021.

The ECB had withdrawn the licence of Shandong Luneng FC to participate in the AFC Champions League 2021 and declared the club ineligible to participate in the competition in accordance with Articles 7.3.4 and 7.3.5 of the AFC Club Licensing Regulations – Edition 2016 (read together with Article 4.1.4 of the Procedural Rules Governing the AFC Entry Control Body).

The ECB determined that Shandong Luneng FC had not satisfied the mandatory Criterion F.04 of the AFC Club Licensing Regulations – Edition 2016 concerning overdue payables and, accordingly, should not have been granted a licence.