Thirteen clubs were stripped of points due to corruption in Chinese football
Chinese football is undergoing one of the biggest and most serious cleansing processes in its history. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
One and a half months before the official start of the new competition season, the country's football association announced its strict and decisive decisions. As a result of these decisions, serious restrictions were imposed on the activities of many professional clubs and high-ranking officials.
A total of thirteen professional teams were deducted points for participating in match-fixing, gambling, and various corruption schemes. Nine of them were competing in the top-tier Super League, while the remaining four were continuing their battles in the first league.
Due to this situation, many clubs were forced to start the new year with negative points in the tournament table, which caused them great difficulties. The penalties were not limited to just point deductions.
Clubs that violated the rules were fined heavily, ranging from two hundred thousand to one million yuan, approximately up to one hundred thousand euros. The Chinese Football Association cited the scale of the violations, the damage caused to society, and the necessity to restore overall trust in the football system as the main reasons for adopting these strict measures.
Such measures are important steps aimed at ensuring transparency and fairness in all future competitions. As a result of the investigation, not only clubs but also high-ranking officials in the football system were severely punished.
A total of seventy-three individuals were banned from football activities for life. Among them is the former president of the Chinese Football Association, Chen Xuyuan.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment last year on charges of bribery. Also, the former head coach of the Chinese national team, Li Tie, was banned for life.
This situation clearly shows how deeply rooted corruption is in the upper echelons of Chinese football. Such problems are not being observed in Chinese football for the first time.
In the mid-2010s, extensive investigations were also conducted, and dozens of players, referees, and officials were punished. According to analysts, one of the main causes of these problems is the irregularities related to the salaries of local players.
Delays in salary payments and financial difficulties faced by players push them to engage in match-fixing in pursuit of easy income. The current cleansing process is considered an important step to fundamentally reform Chinese football and restore it to a healthy environment.
Source: One.uz
