One of the largest purges in the history of Chinese football is underway. A month and a half before the start of the new season, strict decisions taken by the country's football association put an end to the activities of many clubs and officials. A total of 13 professional teams were deducted points for participating in match-fixing, gambling, and corrupt schemes. 9 of these teams compete in the top league, and the remaining 4 in the first league. As a result, many clubs were forced to start the new season with negative indicators in the tournament table.
Punitive measures are not limited to point deductions. Fines ranging from 200,000 to 1 million yuan, or approximately 120,000 euros, were imposed on the offending clubs. The Chinese Football Association based these decisions on the scale of the violations, the damage caused to society, and the need to restore confidence in the football system. Such measures are aimed at ensuring that future competitions are transparent and fair.
As a result of the investigation, not only clubs but also high-ranking officials in the football system were severely punished. A total of 73 people were banned from football for life. Among them is Chen Syuyyuan, the former president of the Chinese Football Association. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2024 for bribery. Also, the former head coach of the Chinese national team, Li Te, was banned for life. This situation shows how deep the corruption rooted in the upper circles of Chinese football is.
Such problems are not new in Chinese football. In the mid-2010s, large-scale investigations were conducted, and dozens of players, referees, and officials were punished. Analysts believe that one of the main reasons for these problems is the systemic issues related to the salaries of local players. Delayed salaries and financial difficulties of players encourage them to engage in match-fixing for easy money. The current cleanup process is considered an important step to fundamentally reform Chinese football and return it to a healthy environment.
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