*This content was translated by AI.
Chinese football has declared a 'war on corruption'. It has permanently expelled 73 people and made a super-strong move to cut points for 13 clubs.
China's state-run media "Global Times" reported on the 29th (local time) that "the China Football Association (CFA), the National Sports Administration, and the Ministry of Public Security held a joint press conference in Beijing and announced the results of disciplinary action against footballers involved in match fixing, illegal gambling, and bribery."
According to the announcement, a total of 73 people have been permanently expelled from the soccer world, including key figures who have been subjected to judicial treatment, such as former Chinese national team coach Li Tie and former Chinese Football Association president Chen Xuyuan. This is considered the strongest clean-up measure in Chinese soccer history.
In addition to individual disciplinary action, the club also failed to avoid punishment. A total of 13 clubs, including nine teams in the first division of the Chinese Super League (CSL) and four teams in the second division (A-class), were given points cuts and fines in the 2026 season.
The heaviest disciplinary action was taken by Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Jinmenhu, the CSL runners-up last season. The two clubs were fined 1 million yuan (about 190 million won) along with a 10-point reduction (-10) in the 2026 season after serious violations were detected.
In addition, Qingdao Haiyue (-7 points), Henan FC (-6 points), and Shandong Taishan (-6 points), Son Joon-ho's former team from the Korean national team, were also severely punished. Son Joon-ho was also previously included on the list of permanent expulsion. Shanghai Haigang, the "defending champion," and the prestigious Beijing Guoan will also face the new season with five points each cut.
When the unprecedented severe punishment was announced, the Shanghai Shenhua club immediately bowed its head. According to the media, Shanghai Shenhua issued a statement shortly after the disciplinary announcement and said, "The club humbly accepts the association's disciplinary decision and feels deeply responsible for the incident." "I sincerely apologize for the disappointment to the fans and the entire soccer community who supported the team. We will reform it with bone-cutting efforts," he added.
Local media predicted that the move will have a huge impact on the Super League game in the 2026 season, which will open on March 6. As the two winning teams in Shanghai (Shenhua and Haigang) started with negative points, the league ranking competition fell into the fog even before the opening.
The Chinese sports authorities have vowed to cut out the affected area, saying, "There is no tolerance," but the incident, in which a large number of major clubs were involved, is expected to inevitably lead to a decline in the international credibility of Chinese soccer.
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
