In a sweeping move against corruption within its domestic football system, China has imposed lifetime bans on seventy-three individuals from all soccer-related activities. The Chinese Football Association announced the unprecedented sanctions on Thursday as part of its latest anti-corruption campaign targeting alleged match-fixing and bribery.
High-Profile Figures Among Those Banned
The list of banned individuals includes several prominent figures from Chinese football. Among them are former national team coach Li Tie, who also played for English Premier League side Everton during his career, and Chen Xuyuan, the former president of the Chinese Football Association. Both men were previously convicted of accepting millions of dollars in bribes through judicial proceedings concluded in 2024.
Li Tie received a twenty-year prison sentence for his involvement in corruption schemes, while Chen Xuyuan was handed a life term for his offences. A CFA official stated that the lifetime football bans were imposed because "criminal offenses have been confirmed by effective judicial judgments" against all seventy-three individuals.
Clubs Face Significant Sporting Penalties
Beyond individual sanctions, nine Chinese Super League clubs have been penalised with point deductions and substantial financial fines. The punishments vary according to the severity of each club's involvement in improper transactions.
Shanghai Shenhua, which achieved a second-place finish in the previous season, and Tianjin Jinmen Tigers have received the harshest penalties. Both clubs have been docked ten competition points and fined one million yuan, equivalent to approximately one hundred and forty-three thousand US dollars.
Defending champions Shanghai Port will begin the 2026 season with a five-point deduction, significantly impacting their title defence before a ball has been kicked. The CFA explained that "the point deductions and financial penalties imposed on clubs are based on the amount, nature, seriousness and social impact of the improper transactions in which each club was involved."
Zero-Tolerance Policy Against Corruption
The Chinese Football Association has emphasised its commitment to maintaining a "zero-tolerance" approach toward corruption within the sport. This latest action represents a continuation of anti-corruption measures that began in earnest several years ago.
In September 2024, forty-three officials and players received similar lifetime bans, indicating a sustained campaign to clean up Chinese football. The current sanctions against seventy-three individuals represent a significant escalation in both scale and severity.
The CFA's statement highlighted that the lifetime bans prevent the sanctioned individuals from participating in "any football-related activities," effectively ending their involvement in the sport at all levels within China. This comprehensive approach aims to address systemic issues that have plagued Chinese football for years, affecting both the domestic league and national team performance.
Observers note that these measures come amid broader efforts to improve the standard and integrity of Chinese football, which has struggled with corruption allegations despite substantial financial investment in recent decades. The point deductions for top clubs will significantly alter the competitive landscape of the upcoming Chinese Super League season, potentially affecting championship races and relegation battles before the campaign even begins.
