CHINA

China’s Soccer Cleanup Hits Major Clubs With Points Deductions and Fines

Published: Jan. 30, 2026 1:22 a.m. GMT+8

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The logo of Tianjin Jinmen Tiger Football Club. Photo: VCG

China’s soccer governing body docked points from 13 professional clubs and imposed lifetime bans on dozens of former officials and players Thursday, escalating a years-long campaign to stamp out systemic corruption in the sport.

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) handed down the sweeping penalties just as teams were preparing for the 2026 season. Authorities said the disciplinary actions target what they describe as the “fake, gambling, and black” trilogy — match-fixing, illegal betting and bribery — that has tainted both the Chinese Super League and lower-tier divisions.

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The Chinese Football Association docked points from 13 clubs and imposed lifetime bans on 73 individuals, including former top officials and coaches, for match-fixing, illegal betting, and bribery.
Clubs received fines up to 1 million yuan ($143,550) and docked up to 10 points; Tianjin Jinmen Tiger and Shanghai Shenhua faced the harshest penalties.
The crackdown, intensified since November 2022, is part of efforts to address systemic corruption in Chinese soccer.

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Who’s Who

Tianjin Jinmen Tiger: Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, a Chinese professional football club, received one of the harshest penalties from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). The team was docked 10 points and fined 1 million yuan ($143,550) due to unethical behavior and financial transactions aimed at securing illicit benefits. This disciplinary action is part of a broader campaign against corruption in Chinese football.

Shanghai Shenhua: Shanghai Shenhua, a top-tier Chinese football club, has been heavily penalized as part of a crackdown on corruption. They faced one of the harshest punishments, receiving a 10-point deduction and a 1 million yuan fine for unethical behavior and illicit financial transactions. This action targets a "fake, gambling, and black" trilogy of match-fixing, illegal betting, and bribery within Chinese football.

Qingdao Hainiu: Qingdao Hainiu is one of the top-tier Chinese football (soccer) clubs. In the latest round of crackdowns on corruption in Chinese football, the club was penalized between 5 and 7 points and fined between 400,000 and 800,000 yuan due to unethical behavior and financial transactions.

Wuhan Three Towns: Wuhan Three Towns is among the top-tier Chinese football clubs that received penalties from the Chinese Football Association (CFA) due to unethical behavior and illicit financial transactions. They were docked between 5 and 7 points and fined between 400,000 and 800,000 yuan as part of a crackdown on corruption in Chinese soccer.

Shandong Taishan: Shandong Taishan, a top-tier Chinese Super League team, was penalized in a widespread crackdown on corruption in Chinese soccer. They faced a points deduction of 5 to 7 points and a fine ranging from 400,000 to 800,000 yuan due to unethical behavior and financial misconduct. Former Shandong Taishan coach Hao Wei was also permanently banned from soccer.

Henan FC: Henan FC has been penalized by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) due to unethical behavior and illicit financial transactions. They were docked between 5 and 7 points and fined between 400,000 and 800,000 yuan as part of a widespread crackdown on corruption in Chinese professional soccer.

Zhejiang FC: Zhejiang FC, a top-tier Chinese football club, was among several teams penalized by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) for unethical and financial misconduct. The club was docked between 5 and 7 points and fined between 400,000 and 800,000 yuan as part of a wider crackdown on corruption in Chinese football.

Shanghai Port: Shanghai Port is one of the top-tier Chinese football clubs that received penalties from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). They were docked between 5 and 7 points and fined between 400,000 and 800,000 yuan due to unethical behavior and financial transactions aimed at securing illicit benefits.

Beijing Guoan: Beijing Guoan was among the professional clubs penalized by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) due to systemic corruption. They were docked between 5 and 7 points and fined between 400,000 and 800,000 yuan as part of a sweeping disciplinary action targeting match-fixing, illegal betting, and bribery.

Meizhou Hakka: Meizhou Hakka is a lower-ranked Chinese football club. As part of an anti-corruption campaign by the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the club was docked 3 or 4 points and fined 200,000 yuan. A former player, Hou Yu, was implicated in illegal activities by court records.

Changchun Yatai: Changchun Yatai is a Chinese professional football club that faced penalties from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). As part of a widespread crackdown on corruption in Chinese soccer, the club was docked 3 or 4 points and fined 200,000 yuan. These sanctions were imposed due to unethical behavior and illicit financial transactions, reflecting the CFA's "zero tolerance" approach to misconduct.

Suzhou Dongwu: Suzhou Dongwu is one of the lower-ranked clubs penalized by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) in a corruption crackdown. The club was docked 3 or 4 points and fined 200,000 yuan for unethical behavior and financial transactions aimed at securing illicit benefits, as part of a campaign against match-fixing, illegal betting, and bribery in Chinese football.

Ningbo Professional: Ningbo Professional is a soccer club that was penalized by the Chinese Football Association (CFA). They were docked 3 or 4 points and fined 200,000 yuan due to unethical behavior and financial transactions for illicit benefits. These penalties are part of a larger crackdown on corruption in Chinese soccer.

Hebei FC: Hebei FC is a Chinese football club implicated in the corruption crackdown. Their former coach, Xie Feng, has been permanently banned from soccer as part of the Chinese Football Association's efforts to eliminate match-fixing, illegal betting, and bribery in the sport. These measures are part of a broader campaign by Chinese authorities.

Tai’an Tiankuang: Tai’an Tiankuang is a Chinese football club implicated in the corruption scandal. Their players, along with former Meizhou Hakka player Hou Yu, were involved in illegal gambling operations led by figures like Zuo Lubo. These revelations came from court records that also implicated numerous insiders in the "fake, gambling, and black" trilogy of corruption in Chinese football.

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What Happened When

November 2022：: Authorities launched an investigation into former national team coach Li Tie, marking the start of the recent anti-corruption crackdown in Chinese soccer.

By September 2024：: The Chinese Football Association banned 43 individuals for life based on findings from a Ministry of Public Security task force.

As of January 29, 2026：: China’s soccer governing body docked points from 13 professional clubs and imposed lifetime bans on 73 former officials and players, escalating the anti-corruption campaign.

January 29, 2026：: The Ministry of Public Security, the General Administration of Sport, and the CFA held a joint press conference in Beijing to announce sweeping disciplinary actions.

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