Football Earthquake in China: Lifetime Suspensions and Mass Point Deductions
The Chinese authorities announced the lifetime suspension of 73 individuals from any football-related activities as part of a wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign following suspicions of match-fixing, marking one of the biggest blows to the country's football sector in recent years.
The sanctions included deducting points from 13 professional clubs, including the Chinese Super League champion Shanghai Port, which will start the 2026 season with minus five points, making it one of nine clubs in the same league to begin with point penalties.
The sanctions also affected Shanghai Shenhua, the runner-up of last season, which faced a 10-point deduction at once, in a clear indication of the seriousness of the authorities in enforcing discipline and addressing any illegal practices within local competitions.
In total, 72 points were deducted from clubs in the first and second divisions in China, in addition to financial fines amounting to 7.2 million Chinese yuan, equivalent to about 1.04 million US dollars, in a move aimed at restoring credibility and integrity to Chinese football.
The sanctions included deducting points from 13 professional clubs, including the Chinese Super League champion Shanghai Port, which will start the 2026 season with minus five points, making it one of nine clubs in the same league to begin with point penalties.
The sanctions also affected Shanghai Shenhua, the runner-up of last season, which faced a 10-point deduction at once, in a clear indication of the seriousness of the authorities in enforcing discipline and addressing any illegal practices within local competitions.
In total, 72 points were deducted from clubs in the first and second divisions in China, in addition to financial fines amounting to 7.2 million Chinese yuan, equivalent to about 1.04 million US dollars, in a move aimed at restoring credibility and integrity to Chinese football.