View source for Shanghai Handed Asian Champions League Berth As Shandong Expulsion...

<br>By Michael Church<br> <br>HONG KONG, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Former Chinese champions Shanghai SIPG have earned a late call-up to the 2021 Asian Champions League after the Asian Football Confederation confirmed the expulsion of Shandong Luneng from the latest edition of the continental club championship.<br> <br>Shanghai, winners of the Chinese Super League in 2018 and  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-trung-quoc-quang-chau-tham-quyen-bang-tuong-5-ngay.html tour quảng châu từ hà nội] semi-finalists in the Asian Champions League a year earlier, finished fourth in last year´s domestic championship to initially miss out on qualifying for the competition.<br> <br>However, Shandong, who had booked their berth in the competition by winning last year´s Chinese FA Cup, had their licence to play revoked by the AFC earlier this month due to "overdue payables".<br> <br>The AFC said on Thursday that twice champions Guangzhou FC will replace Shandong as China´s second-ranked club in the competition and,  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-trung-quoc-quang-chau-tham-quyen-bang-tuong-5-ngay.html kynghidongduong.vn] as a result, Fabio Cannavaro´s side will play in Group J alongside Hong Kong´s Kitchee, Port FC from Thailand and either Melbourne City, Myanmar´s Shan United or Cerezo Osaka from Japan.<br> <br>That means Beijing FC, who had been due to feature in the playoff rounds after their third-place finish in the league, will also progress automatically to the group phase.<br> <br>Slaven Bilic´s side will meet Japanese champions Kawasaki Frontale, United City of the Philippines and either South Korea´s Daegu FC or Chiangrai United from Thailand in Group I.<br> <br>Shanghai will take on either Brisbane Roar from Australia or Kaya-Iloilo of the Philippines in the playoff rounds for a berth in Group F alongside defending champions Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea, Thailand´s BG Pathum United and  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-trung-quoc-quang-chau-tham-quyen-bang-tuong-5-ngay.html tour quảng châu] Viettel from Vietnam.<br> <br>Last year´s Chinese Super League winners Jiangsu FC remain unaffected by the [http://www.savethestudent.org/?s=decision decision] and will play in Group G with Japan´s Nagoya Grampus, Johor Darul Ta´zim from Malaysia and either South Korean side Pohang Steelers or Ratchaburi Mitr Phol of Thailand.<br> <br>The group phase of the Asian Champions League is due to be played in centralised hubs due to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on international travel.<br> <br>Games in the preliminary and playoff rounds are set to take place from April 7 with the group phase in the eastern half of the continent slated to commence from April 21.<br><br>(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Ken Ferris)<br>