Another major scandal has hit Chinese football, as authorities have confirmed heavy penalties for 13 clubs involved in match-fixing and corruption.
Nine teams will start the new Chinese Super League season with points deducted, the sanctions coming after a wide-ranging investigation into match-fixing, illegal betting and improper transactions within Chinese football.
Shanghai Shenhua, who finished runners-up last season, have received one of the harshest penalties, being given a 10-point deduction at the start of the season. The same penalty was given to Tianjin Tigers. Several other clubs have also been punished, with four of them already relegated to China League One as a result of previous disciplinary measures.
In addition to the sporting penalties, all 13 clubs have been fined financially. The fines range from £21 to £104, depending on the seriousness of the breaches in each case.
The Chinese Football Association has stressed that the sanctions have been imposed to protect the integrity of the sport. In an official statement, the governing body said the measures are aimed at maintaining discipline, cleaning up the football environment and ensuring fair competition.
The federation also clarified that the point deductions and fines are determined based on the scale, nature, seriousness and social impact of the violations committed by each club, reaffirming its zero tolerance stance towards corruption.
The development follows a wider crackdown that began last season. In September 2024, 43 players and officials were banned from football for life after being found guilty of serious misconduct. Former Everton midfielder Li Tie was among them.
The 48-year-old was jailed last year after admitting to fixing matches, accepting bribes and offering bribes in order to secure a top coaching position.
In total, more than 70 people have received life bans as part of this investigation, highlighting the vast scale of the problem in Chinese football.Telegrafi
