Shandong Taishan’s withdrawal from the competition: a sports decision under political turmoil?

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Shandong Taishan’s withdrawal from the competition: a sports decision under political turmoil?

On the eve of the 2024 AFC Champions League Elite East Asia knockout round, China's Shandong Taishan Football Club announced its withdrawal due to "player health issues", sparking widespread speculation. This withdrawal not only made Shandong Taishan lose the opportunity to advance to the top 16, but also may face punishment from the AFC. However, many media analysts believe that the reason behind this decision may be closely related to the prev…