SHANGHAI: China’s football association (CFA) warned Tuesday that it would punish teams who flout its transfer rules, following reports two clubs are battling to sign striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Evergrande denied they were pursuing Aubameyang—without explicitly naming him—but that was not before the CFA made plain its anger. The CFA too did not name the striker but made a clear reference to the 28-year-old and Evergrande and Guoan. “The news of two clubs suspected of engaging in a bidding war on a transfer has caused social concern,” it said in a statement, adding that it had asked them to explain. Soon after the CFA statement, Evergrande hit out at “the purely fictitious” reports and threatened legal action.

Source: Manila Times January 09, 2018 14:15 UTC