China punishes those involved in match-fixing and corruption scandal | OneFootball

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has banned 73 people, including former national team coach Li Tie, for match-fixing and corruption. The measure is part of a state-led offensive to “clean up” football in the country. Announced this Thursday, the decision aims to restore integrity and discipline to a sector shaken by successive ethical scandals and management crises.

Among those punished are the former federation president, Chen Xuyuan (sentenced to life in prison), and Li Tie, who is already serving a 20-year sentence. Both are now banned from any activity related to the sport. The investigation revealed a systematic scheme of bribery and betting that compromised the Chinese professional scene in recent years, exposing the fragility of the local leagues.

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Chinese Championship

The impact directly affects the 2026 Chinese Super League (CSL). Of the 16 top-tier clubs, 11 will start the tournament in March with point deductions. Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger will each lose 10 points, in addition to heavy fines. Meanwhile, current three-time champion Shanghai Port and Beijing Guoan were penalized with a five-point deduction in the standings for involvement in irregularities.

According to the CFA, the sanctions are vital to keep the competition fair and purify the sporting environment. The severity of the penalties reflects President Xi Jinping’s government’s effort to eradicate corruption in football, exposing the critical state of past managements and attempting to rehabilitate the sport’s image before fans and international investors.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.