Nine teams in the Chinese Super League will begin the upcoming season with points deducted following sanctions over “match-fixing, gambling, and corruption in the football industry.”
As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, Shanghai Shenhua, last season’s runners-up, and Tianjin Tigers received the harshest punishment, with a 10-point deduction each.
Four other sanctioned clubs have already been relegated to China League One.
In addition to the points penalties, the 13 clubs involved were fined between £21,000 and £104,000 (200,000 to 1 million yuan).
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) said the measures were aimed at “upholding industry discipline, purifying the football environment, and maintaining fair competition.”
“Points deductions and financial penalties were determined based on the seriousness and impact of each club’s involvement in improper transactions.”
The crackdown is part of an ongoing effort to combat corruption in Chinese football. In September 2024, 43 officials and players received lifetime bans, including former Everton midfielder Li Tie, who was jailed after admitting to match-fixing, bribery, and attempting to secure a top coaching job through illicit payments.
The CFA reaffirmed its “zero-tolerance” approach to corruption as the CSL prepares to kick off its new season.
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