Chinese football authorities have unleashed the most severe disciplinary measures in the sport’s history, penalizing 13 clubs and 73 individuals in a sweeping anti-corruption campaign. The landmark sanctions come following an extensive joint investigation conducted by the Ministry of Public Security and the General Administration of Sport of China.
The Chinese Football Association announced on January 29, 2026, that multiple clubs would face significant point deductions for the upcoming season, with fines reaching 1 million yuan ($143,900) for the most serious offenders. Reigning Chinese Super League champion Shanghai Port will begin their title defense with a five-point deficit, while Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger received the harshest penalties of ten-point deductions alongside maximum financial penalties.
In a parallel move, the CFA issued lifetime bans against 73 individuals involved in match-fixing, gambling, and bribery schemes. The banned figures include former CFA chairman Chen Xuyuan and ex-national team coach Li Tie, both currently serving lengthy prison sentences following their 2024 convictions for accepting millions in bribes. In a particularly striking case, former international player Wang Dong received a lifetime ban merely eleven days after his appointment as head coach of third-tier club Changchun Xidu.
CFA president Song Kai emphasized the organization’s “zero tolerance” stance against corruption, stating that cleaning up the sport remains paramount to China’s football revitalization project. The General Administration of Sport of China endorsed the penalties as demonstrating serious commitment to reforming league governance and promoting integrity.
Affected clubs, including Beijing Guoan and both Shanghai teams, have publicly accepted the punishments, acknowledging management failures and pledging to implement stricter oversight and moral education programs. Legal experts have concurrently called for updating China’s 1995 sports law to include more specific provisions addressing sports corruption, suggesting that stronger legal frameworks are necessary to prevent future violations.