Thirteen clubs have been punished after authorities concluded an investigation into match-fixing, gambling and corruption within Chinese football.
Nine teams will begin the upcoming Chinese Super League season with points deductions, with last season’s runners-up Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Tigers receiving the heaviest sanctions of 10 points each.
Four of the clubs found guilty have already been relegated to China League One, while all 13 have also been fined between 200,000 and one million yuan (£21,000–£104,000).
The penalties follow a wide-ranging investigation into football-related gambling and the manipulation of matches.
In a statement, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said the measures were designed “to uphold industry discipline, purify the football environment and maintain fair competition”.
The CFA added that the points deductions and financial penalties reflected “the amount, nature, seriousness and social impact” of the improper transactions involving each club, reaffirming its “zero-tolerance” stance on corruption.
The latest sanctions come amid a broader crackdown on malpractice in the sport. In September 2024, 43 officials and players were handed lifetime bans.
Former Everton midfielder Li Tie is among those barred from football for life, along with a further 73 individuals. The 48-year-old was jailed last year after admitting to fixing matches, accepting bribes and offering bribes in pursuit of a senior coaching position.
