Tianjin Quanjian football team changed name amid corporate fraud scandal
Updated 15:54, 13-Jan-2019
Sports Scene
["china"]
01:01
Chinese Super League's rising Tianjin Quanjian Football Club has officially changed its registration name to Tianjin Tianhai Football Club on Thursday, following the club's owner being arrested over corporate fraud earlier this week.
The Chinese characters of “Quanjian” have also reportedly been taken down outside the club's building in Hexi District in Tianjin, the neighboring municipality of the Chinese capital.
Shu Yuhui is one of the dozens who has been arrested on charges of running a pyramid scheme, as well as false advertising by his company, Quanjian Nature Medicine Technology Development.
The scandal could greatly affect the football club, which is already having difficulty paying salaries.
The 51-year-old Shu is one of several CSL owners who spent big on transfers in recent campaigns, including Belgium's Axel Witsel and Brazil's Alexandre Pato. 
Players of Quanjian celebrate during the game against Guangzhou Fuli Football Club, October 27, 2019. /VCG Photo

Players of Quanjian celebrate during the game against Guangzhou Fuli Football Club, October 27, 2019. /VCG Photo

Quanjian gained promotion to the top flight after topping League One in 2016, ¬under the guidance of ¬Italian World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro. 
In their CSL debut, Tianjin finished third out of 16 teams and qualified for last year's AFC Champions League. 
Their current coach is South Korean Choi Kang-hee, the former Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors manager, who is entering the second season of a three-year deal worth 22 million US dollars. 
In the on-going 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Tianjin Tianhai football club's Zhao Xuri, Zhang Lu, Liu Yiming are now representing China in the national team. Goalkeeper Zhang overcame an injury to be finally included in the 23-man squad.