On the evening of February 16, Beijing time, Chinese football once again sent earthquake-level bad news, and Dong Wensheng, the former chairman of Tianjin TEDA Club, was arrested according to law. The news is definitely bad news for Chinese football at a low ebb.
As a traditional powerhouse in Chinese football, Tianjin Teda (now renamed Tianjin Jinmen Tigers) is also an influential team in the Chinese Super League. He has won the Chinese Football Association Cup and another second place in the Chinese Super League. Dong Wensheng was formally arrested by the relevant departments this time, in fact, there was a precursor, as early as July 2021, Dong Wensheng was taken away for investigation by reporting corruption under his real name. This official announcement is equivalent to conclusive evidence.
Dong Wensheng was officially appointed in July 2007 to succeed Gao Yingqin as chairman and general manager of TEDA Football Club. However, since Dong Wensheng took office, the team has not been plagued, fighting for relegation every year. At the beginning of last season, TEDA Football Club suffered a serious financial crisis, arrears of players' wages, and the club's operation was difficult. By the end of last year, after the investor TEDA Holdings officially withdrew from Chinese football, it was hosted by the Tianjin Municipal Sports Bureau.
In March last year, the Tianjin Municipal Audit Bureau officially entered the club and liquidated all the club's accounts since 1998. Among them, it was found that Dong Wensheng had accepted bribes, embezzled public funds, and bought and sold foreign aid to collect kickbacks during his term of office.
Not only Dong Wensheng, but also another boss in the history of TEDA, Li Guangyi, is also currently under investigation. He also caused controversy during his tenure. Li Guangyi is arguably the longest-serving general manager in the history of TEDA Club, and he has been in charge of TEDA Club for 8 years. He once brought in as many as 9 foreign aides for TEDA in one season, and his bold approach is truly staggering. Even Evergrande and Luneng, who were rich and powerful at that time, did not dare to waste resources so much. Many of Li Guangyi's practices during his time at the helm of TEDA Club also made the fans very unhappy.
Now, with Dong Wensheng officially arrested according to law, fans say that this is a good news. The reason why Chinese football has been stagnant is because there are cancers like Dong Wensheng and Li Guangyi. If these cancers are not eradicated, it will be difficult for Chinese football to have a head start.
At present, with the introduction of the policy of further salary restriction order in Chinese football, the outside world has expressed support for the wise decision of the Football Association. In addition to the salary restriction order, the Football Association should also supervise the financial situation of each club, including club operating expenses, internal and external invocation and other financial expenditures to strictly control and prevent the continued spread of various economic crimes. For Chinese football, only by purifying the environment can we usher in the day of spring!