September 9: Qingdao Hainiu's Star-Second-Generation Loan Controversy in a Relegation Battle

A Chinese Super League relegation contender would rather keep a football legend's son on the bench without giving him a minute? Qingdao Hainiu's approach has brought personal connections into a survival battle — is it really worth it?

Hainiu used a valuable recruitment slot on a star second-generation player, yet the league has barely allowed him to sweat. During the 2026 summer window, Li Sirong joined on loan from Tianjin Jinmen Tiger. The No.39 right-back had around nine CSL rounds with zero appearances after joining, and he was often absent from matchday squads. He is not a complete rookie; in the final round of 2025, he scored a header during a four-minute substitute appearance against Shanghai Shenhua, creating a memorable moment. But after arriving in Qingdao, his story seemed frozen. During his time at Tianjin, he was also mostly a substitute in the first half of the season, played 45 minutes in a cup match and conceded a penalty, leaving limited statistical impact.

I find this situation quite contradictory. Relegation teams need wing defenders and players who can run and cover ground. If the club valued his overseas experience and the spark shown by his debut goal, why not give him ten or more minutes to test him? On the other hand, if the only attraction was the label of being Li Ming's son, that would be even less reasonable. Relying on connections while fighting relegation means trading survival for reputation.

Looking back at 2023, Hainiu's attempt involving a coach's son was not the first time. They previously loaned Hao Weifeng's son Hao Haiyi, who recorded zero league minutes throughout the season and only made brief appearances in low-stakes Chinese FA Cup situations, totaling about two minutes. First-team spots are limited; why occupy one without using it? Some fans believe it may involve dressing-room balance or personal favors, but during a relegation fight nobody will show mercy simply because a player is a famous figure's son.

This is not unique in the CSL, but what makes Hainiu especially unusual is the sense of repeating the same mistake. Other clubs focus on immediate ability when recruiting, while they appear closer to a recommendation-based approach. It is hard to say it has nothing to do with personal connections because the playing arrangements lack a clear sporting explanation; but there is also no evidence that the club has admitted such motives. This ambiguity is what frustrates relegation supporters most.

In top-level football, the sons of famous players or coaches already face a harder path to establish themselves. Gao Hongbo's son participated in youth tournaments as a child, stood 1.87 meters tall and showed passing ability, but later did not pursue a professional career, with almost no public CSL appearances. Names such as Li Tie's son are often discussed publicly, but officially recorded CSL competitive appearances are also extremely rare. It is not because their fathers lack reputation; professional football only recognizes running, physical battles and decision-making, not family background. The star-family label can become pressure: goals may be attributed to connections, while mistakes may be blamed on privilege, creating greater psychological costs than for ordinary academy players.

Li Sirong does have natural advantages: years in the youth system of Dutch club ADO Den Haag and experience in Denmark and Croatia. However, his youth-team appearances abroad were not particularly numerous, and his debut goal after returning to China was like fireworks — bright but short-lived. Whether it was tactical incompatibility, hidden injuries or a lack of coach trust, many factors may have combined. It would be unfair to call him incapable solely because of zero appearances, but keeping a squad place only because he is a famous player's son is equally unreasonable.

Hainiu currently lacks not attention, but points, foreign players and confidence. Reports in 2026 said the team had 14 points and was at the bottom of the table, had suffered an eight-game losing streak and still had theoretical survival hopes with around five matches remaining. Foreign player Tufegdzic was injured soon after arriving, Angelkovic suffered a strain, and Ejuwa was suspended, forcing the team to rely on only two foreign players in some matches. In such circumstances, leaving a new full-back without opportunities, whether due to contracts, tactics or personal relationships, is like hanging a lifebuoy on the wall instead of throwing it into the water.

Some media reports said Hainiu only added Tufegdzic and Li Sirong during the summer window. With one foreign signing seriously injured and one domestic signing making zero appearances, the reinforcement effort looks insufficient. Relegation rivals are fighting for every detail, while Hainiu appears focused on relationships. If the team is relegated to the second tier at the end of the season, who will take responsibility — investors, coaches or the fans who bought season tickets?

What is more painful is that a player on the bench may still want to play, while a player given a squad place may not necessarily be used. Li Sirong's cup-match penalty incident and subsequent substitution at Tianjin show he is not without flaws, but if he is never given even a longer league opportunity, those flaws can never be improved. Professional football is not a talent show; a player cannot rely only on an overseas resume, nor should he be completely abandoned because of one poor cup performance. If Hainiu truly treated the move as a relationship-based loan, it would be a lose-lose situation: the player damages his reputation and the club wastes a roster spot.

Sometimes I wonder whether the coach simply believes his training form is not good enough. But if that is the case, the club should not have signed him in the summer window. CSL transfers are not casual choices; every registration slot for a relegation team is extremely valuable. Using a precious resource on something that produces no impact is difficult to understand.

Being a star second-generation player does not mean success is impossible; it requires patience and the right method of use. In recent years, when the children of coaches, executives or famous players enter professional teams, they receive much more attention. Li Sirong's four-minute debut header showed he is not without ability; Hao Haiyi's unsuccessful loan spell at Hainiu does not prove he lacks talent, as position, system and timing may all have been factors. The problem is that clubs treat signing a player as the outcome instead of treating player development as a long-term project.

If Hainiu truly want to stay up, they should be more decisive in the final rounds: if they lack options on the wing, let Li Sirong try for 20 minutes. What is there to lose? The team is already in a difficult position. Without trying there is never a result; trying at least provides evidence. But if management originally made the move to repay a personal favor, that is a different matter, and relegation could become another cost.

The point I disagree with most is that a relegation team is taking such an expensive gamble with youth development and personal connections. Qingdao has football foundations, youth development and fan support, yet Hainiu often seem to struggle at key moments. Problems such as foreign-player issues, injuries and schedule pressure aside, the recruitment choice itself is worth discussing — the same slot given to a strong-performing second-tier full-back might have been more practical than a star second-generation player with zero appearances. The desire of a famous player's son to return home and play CSL football is understandable, but emotion cannot directly produce three points.

A Hainiu fan told me: the silence in the stands can sometimes hurt more than a defeat. Fans want to see effort, not nostalgic names. Putting names like Li Ming and Hao Wei into announcements without giving the player opportunities is like displaying a name without actually using the player.

A cautious prediction: if Hainiu are really relegated, this type of star-second-generation loan may become a case study. The issue is not opposing the signing of famous players' sons, but opposing signing without using them and relying on connections instead of football logic. Li Sirong is still in his early twenties; if he becomes a starter in the second tier, it may help him more than sitting on Hainiu's bench for a year. Hao Haiyi's chapter should not simply be condemned either; when the environment is wrong, any player can struggle. Before making similar moves in the future, CSL clubs should answer three questions: where can the player play, how many minutes will he receive, and who is responsible if it fails? If they cannot answer, they should not sign the player.

In the final rounds of the relegation fight, I would like to see Hainiu break the pattern and allow the so-called 'connection player' on the bench to truly play a match. If it works, it is a discovery; if it fails, it is still a lesson. That is better than ending the season with zero appearances and everyone blaming each other. Football can have human relationships, but the pitch ultimately recognizes only the ball and the points.