On September 28, 1998 (the eighth day of the eighth lunar month), Wanda decided to retire from football.

On September 28, 1998, Wang Jianlin, chairman of Dalian Wanda Group and chairman of Dalian Wanda Football Club, said that after careful study, Dalian Wanda Group decided to transfer all shares of the football club to the whole country.

After the game between Dalian Wanda team and Liaoning Tianrun team ended the day before, Wang Jianlin made a statement at the press conference after the game that Dalian Wanda Group would withdraw from the football world. Today, Dalian Wanda Football Club reiterated yesterday's decision.

Wang Jianlin said that Dalian Wanda Group will transfer all its shares in Dalian Wanda Football Club after the end of this season. He said that if a local company in Dalian is willing to take over, the transfer will be free, including the club's second and third teams and the four teams being formed. The club's training center can be transferred at half price. If a foreign company still uses the word "Dalian" in front of the team name after taking over, it will also be transferred for free. If a foreign company does not want to use the word "Dalian", it will be transferred for a fee.

Wang Jianlin's move is believed to be a counterattack against the long-standing phenomenon of match-fixing and black whistle in China football. Because the Wanda Club believes that the referee who enforced the Lian-Liao Battle, Yuan Yuancong, is suspected of cheating. For this reason, China Football Association suspended Yuan Cong's law enforcement qualifications for one year.