China’s Shanghai Port has been handed a playoff spot in the Asian Champions League after a rival club was expelled from the region’s top club tournament, officials said.
Shandong Taishan was ejected from the competition earlier this month due to breaking a rule that clubs must not owe money to current or former employees, or the authorities.
Shanghai, who initially missed out on the AFC tournament after finishing fourth in last year’s domestic championship, has now been given a berth in the playoffs in April.
The side — previously known as Shanghai SIPG — were Champions League semifinalists in 2017 and won the Chinese Super League the following year.
Two-time champions …
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