Former Chinese champions Shanghai SIPG have earned a late call-up to the 2021 AFC Champions League after the Asian Football Confederation confirmed the expulsion of Shandong Luneng from the latest edition of the continental club competition.
Shanghai, winners of the Chinese Super League in 2018 and semifinalists in the AFC Champions League a year earlier, finished fourth in last year's domestic campaign to initially miss out on qualifying for the competition.
However, Shandong, who had booked their berth in the competition by winning last year's Chinese FA Cup, had their license to play revoked by the AFC earlier this month due to "overdue payables."
The AFC said on Thursday that twice champions Guangzhou FC will replace Shandong as China's second-ranked club in the competition and, 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.
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.
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.
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 Viettel from Vietnam.
Last year's Chinese Super League winners Jiangsu FC remain unaffected by the 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.
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.
Games in the preliminary and playoff rounds are set to take place on April 7 with the group phase in the eastern half of the continent slated to commence on April 21.