China Football Scandal: 73 Get Lifetime Bans, 13 Clubs Sanctioned

Chinese football has entered its toughest phase in modern history. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) imposed lifetime bans on 73 individuals from football activities, alongside heavy sanctions on 13 professional league clubs. 

This move signals a firm stance in the systemic cleanup effort that has long plagued the most popular sport in the country.

The sanctions were indiscriminate. Former CFA officials and even former national team coaches were swept up.

Chinese state media stated the action was taken due to serious violations of Sportsmanship values and ethics, encompassing bribery, match-fixing, and gambling practices.

Big names appeared on the lifetime ban list. Former CFA chairman Chen Xuyuan, former vice-chairmen Li Yuyi and Du Chaochai, and former secretary-general Liu Yi became symbols of the collapse of Chinese football's old elite. 

However, the biggest spotlight fell on Li Tie, former head coach of the Chinese national team from January 2020 to December 2021.

Li Tie was not only banned for life from football activities but was also sentenced to 20 years in prison in late 2024 after being proven to have accepted bribes totaling $16 million US (approx. IDR 268 billion). 

The CFA emphasized that all 73 individuals were proven to have committed legal violations including accepting and offering bribes, involvement in football gambling, and manipulating match results, thereby harming the spirit of Fair Play. 

For players, sanctions were imposed for on-field misconduct, including not playing seriously and violating sports ethics.

Other player names mentioned by ANTARA include former Tianjin TEDA player Bai Yuefeng, former Shenzhen Football Club player Li Fei, and former Zhejiang Yiteng Football Club player Hao Qiang. These cases illustrate How unsporting practices have infiltrated even the competition level.

Not only individuals, clubs also faced consequences. The CFA imposed sanctions of 3–10 point deductions and fines ranging from 200,000 to one million RMB (approx. IDR 483 million to IDR 2.41 billion) on 13 professional league clubs for the 2026 season. 

The list includes Tianjin Jinmen Tigers, Shanghai Shenhua, Qingdao Manatee, Wuhan Three Towns, Shandong Taishan, Henan Football Club, Zhejiang Professional, Shanghai Harbor, Beijing Guoan, Meizhou Hakka, Changchun Yatai, Suzhou Soochow, and Ningbo Professional.

In an official statement on its Weibo account, the CFA reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the decisions of the Party and central government with a zero-tolerance principle towards violations. 

Authorities also urged other players and clubs to learn profound lessons from this case and take it as a stern warning.

This severe crackdown is part of the cross-sector anti-corruption campaign promoted by President Xi Jinping since 2012.