The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has announced sweeping disciplinary actions in response to a pervasive corruption scandal, banning 73 individuals for life from any football-related activities. This extensive crackdown also impacts 13 domestic professional clubs, which face severe penalties including significant points deductions for their involvement in match-fixing and bribery. These measures aim to restore integrity to the sport in China.
This robust move is part of a broader anti-corruption campaign championed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which has significantly intensified its focus on the football sector in recent years. The ongoing investigations have unveiled a deeply entrenched culture of corruption within professional football, leading to the dismissal of numerous senior CFA officials and the prohibition of dozens of players implicated in match manipulation and illegal gambling. The scope of the scandal highlights systemic issues that the authorities are determined to eradicate.
Among those receiving lifetime bans is Li Tie, the former head coach of the men’s senior national team, who managed the squad from 2019 to 2021. Li Tie, who previously played as a defensive midfielder for English Premier League club Everton, is already serving a 20-year prison sentence for bribery, handed down in December 2024. The CFA statement confirms that the 48-year-old is now permanently barred from football, alongside 72 other individuals. This list notably includes Chen Xuyuan, the former president of the CFA, who is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted of accepting $11 million in bribes.
The professional clubs involved are also facing substantial repercussions. Of the 16 teams that competed in the Chinese Super League (CSL) during the 2025 season, 11 are set to incur points deductions and monetary fines. These unprecedented penalties mean that when the 2026 CSL season commences in March, an astonishing nine teams will begin their campaigns with negative points, effectively starting with a significant deficit.
While the CFA’s statement, issued on January 29, 2026, did not provide specific details regarding the exact timing or methods of the match-fixing incidents, it emphasized that these sanctions are the result of a comprehensive systematic review. The measures are deemed absolutely necessary to uphold fair competition and integrity within the sport. The CFA broadly stated that clubs were implicated in match manipulation, gambling, and bribery, with the severity of their punishment determined by the scale, circumstances, nature, and social impact of their improper activities.
