Chinese football authorities have sanctioned 13 clubs for their involvement in match-fixing, gambling and other corrupt practices, with nine teams set to begin the upcoming Chinese Super League season on negative points.
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced that Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Tigers received the heaviest punishments, with both clubs handed 10-point deductions. Shanghai Shenhua finished as runners-up in the league last season.
Four of the sanctioned clubs have already been relegated to China League One, further compounding the impact of the penalties.
In addition to point deductions, the affected clubs were fined between 200,000 and one million yuan, equivalent to about £21,000 to £104,000, depending on the severity of their offences.
According to the CFA, the sanctions followed an extensive investigation into football-related gambling, match manipulation and corruption within the domestic game.
The association said the penalties were imposed to “uphold industry discipline, purify the football environment, and maintain fair competition.”
It explained that the scale of punishment for each club was determined by the nature, seriousness and social impact of the improper transactions involved, stressing that it would continue to enforce a “zero-tolerance” policy towards corruption.
The latest sanctions come months after authorities imposed lifetime bans on 43 officials and players in September 2024 as part of the same crackdown.
Former Everton midfielder and ex-China national team coach, Li Tie, was among those banned for life. The 48-year-old was jailed last year after admitting to match-fixing, accepting bribes and offering bribes in a bid to secure a top coaching position.
The CFA said the measures were aimed at restoring credibility and integrity to Chinese football following years of governance and ethical challenges.
