Dozens Banned From Chinese Soccer in Wake of Gambling, Graft Crackdown

The General Administration of Sport and the Ministry of Public Security hold a press conference on Tuesday on a special rectification action on a league in Dalian, Northeast China’s Liaoning province. Photo: Chinese Football Association

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has permanently banned 43 players and club officials from the sport, following investigations into the match-fixing, gambling and corruption that have plagued soccer in the country.

Since being launched in 2022, a clampdown has led to the dismantling of 12 online gambling rings and the discovery of 120 fixed matches, ranging from top-level Chinese Super League games to lower division matches, according to a Tuesday CFA statement. A report from state broadcaster CCTV added that 41 teams have been implicated.