Fan Zhiqiang would join the Tianjin TEDA youth team at age 15 before being selected to represent Tianjin in the 2009 National Games where in the final group game, Tianjin lost to Beijing, knocking them out of the competition and leaving Fan dissatisfied with the referee’s officiating he chased the referee along with several team mates he was severely fined by the Chinese Football Association and was suspended for two years. Despite being heavily fined and given a two year suspension he still remained with Tianjin TEDA and joined Tianjin Normal University to continue with his studies while also representing their college team and China in the Football at the 2011 Summer Universiade.