Chengdu Rongcheng Photo: VCG

Chinese Super League (CSL) club Chengdu Rongcheng bounced back in a 2-1 Chinese FA Cup match win against Qingdao Hainiu after their coach Seo Jung-won publicly clashed with the board over contractual disputes and operational control.

Chengdu Rongcheng striker Wei Shihao, who dealt with serious insults from a fan in Tianjin last week, contributed two goals to Rongcheng's win on Wednesday. The result means Rongcheng have qualified for the semifinals of the CFA Cup, where they will take on Henan FC in August. 

Though Rongcheng coach Seo did not discuss the dispute with the club board in his news conference on Wednesday, the dispute, which is rare in the league, has been a hot topic among football fans on social media since it was revealed last week, along with Wei being insulted.

The root of the conflict lies in Seo's contract, which reportedly includes an automatic renewal clause triggering a salary increase if the club reaches the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE). 

Rongcheng are scheduled to host Bangkok United in an ACLE qualifying game in Chengdu on August 12.

The Chengdu-based club once established themselves as CSL title contenders, as they were in the third place in the mid-season CSL table. But club management, under pressure to cut costs, has sought to renegotiate terms that would strip Seo of his veto power over transfers and training protocols. 

Seo accused the club of "six months of disregard" over the extension of his contract during a CSL league match press conference on Friday. He said the situation deteriorated as the club had dismissed his medical staff and interpreter. 

Club officials held an emergency internal meeting on Monday to address the crisis, reiterating their commitment to "professionalism" but offering no specifics on contract talks. Insiders suggest a compromise could involve a reduced salary with performance-based incentives.

Failure to reconcile could see Seo depart mid-season, mirroring Shandong Taishan's managerial change this season. However, terminating his contract without mutual consent would likely result in FIFA sanctions, which is also something neither the club board or the fans want to see.

Some Chengdu fans have framed the coach-board saga as a "betrayal" of Seo, who guided Chengdu to a surprise third-place finish in the league last season. 

Rongcheng's summer transfer strategy has baffled observers as the club was once expected to field their squad for the CSL, FA Cup as well as the ACLE. 

"Despite facing injuries to key players like Hu Hetao and Issa Kallon, the club failed to sign a single reinforcement while allowing six senior players to leave," Feng Zhen, a Beijing-based football commentator, told the Global Times. 

On the pitch, Chengdu's form has mirrored its off-field turmoil. 

A 2-1 defeat to Tianjin Jinmen Tiger last week dropped them to fourth place in the league, seven points adrift of leaders Shanghai Shenhua. 

Defensive vulnerabilities, exposed by Hu's absence and Timo Letschert's fitness issues, have seen them concede six goals in their last three league games. 

The upcoming league clash against Beijing Guoan, the current second-placed team in the CSL, on Saturday looms large. 

The match will test Seo's tactical acumen and the players' mental resilience. A victory would buy time for the board to resolve disputes, while a loss could trigger a potential full-blown crisis. 

"Chengdu's crisis encapsulates the challenges facing Chinese football of balancing fiscal discipline with competitive ambition," Feng said. 

"While the club's long-term vision emphasizes youth development and sustainability, short-term missteps such as poor communication, reactive decision-making, and public airing of grievances, have eroded trust."  

The win against Qingdao could stabilize morale, but the league's title race demands urgent resolution, Feng noted. 

"This isn't just about one manager or one season. It's about whether the proven record of the coach and the team can last," he added.