The massive cleanup and crisis in Chinese football, which has been ongoing for several months, has entered a new, more intense phase. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has officially released its third expanded list of individuals sanctioned as part of the ongoing investigation into the largest corruption and match-fixing scandal in the history of the country's sport.
Recall that in the first wave of the anti-corruption campaign, which began in January of this year, the country's most prominent clubs were severely punished. At that time, 10 points were deducted from Shanghai Shenhua and 5 points from Shanghai Port, and a total of 73 individuals were banned from football for life.
17 lifetime bans and 48 disqualifications
Prestigious South China Morning Post According to the latest information released by the publication, the Chinese Football Association has announced further brutal sanctions aimed at ending the criminal system in the industry. According to the new decision:
17 individuals have been banned from football activities for life;
48 individuals have been disqualified from football for various periods of up to 5 years, depending on the severity of their offense.
These strict punitive measures are not limited to players. The list of restrictions includes well-known club executives, leading coaches, professional footballers, and referees. According to investigation findings, most of them were found guilty of serious crimes such as accepting large bribes, cooperating with illegal betting systems, and match-fixing.
In its official statement, the Association clarified the criteria used to determine the penalties:
“The verdict for each defendant was determined fairly based on a deep study of the nature of their actions, the amount of bribes received, the history of recidivism, and the degree of intent,” the CFA official statement said.
Sanctioned prominent figures and club executives
Among the 17 main figures banned for life from football are several well-known officials who held influence in Chinese football. Specifically, former Shenzhen FC general manager Ding Yong, former Zhongyu team leader Shi Yaoyun, and former Meizhou Hakka general manager Cao Yan are now completely barred from the beautiful game.
The list of 48 people banned from playing or participating in management for a specific period (up to 5 years) also includes prominent names. The presence of Guangzhou FC general manager Gao Han and former Beijing Guoan general manager Li Ming—one of the country's most famous teams—on the list came as a real shock to local fans.
Further fines and point deductions
Furthermore, the Chinese Football Association is punishing not only individuals but also the clubs mired in corruption. It is reported that Meizhou Hakka will face an additional 6-point deduction for the 2026 season.
Additionally, the club was hit with a large financial sanction. For the violations committed by the club's management, they were forced to pay a fine to the state budget in the amount of 800,000 yuan (approximately $117,600). Experts believe these drastic measures will serve to cleanse Chinese football of internal ills and restore its reputation on the international stage.
Do you think brutal punishments like point deductions and lifetime bans for officials are enough to completely eradicate the scourge of corruption in football?
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