WTF Is Happening in the Chinese Super League?!

Thirteen Clubs Starting on Minus Points: What on Earth Is Happening in China?!

China is one of the world's largest, most populous, and most powerful nations. The country is home to over 1.4 billion people, making it only second to India in the world's largest country by population, and is said to also be the second most wealthy country behind the United States, with an estimated GDP of nearly $20 trillion.

Despite that, Its fair to say football in China currently finds itself in somewhat of a mess. In fact, that would be quite the understatement. As a major corruption scandal has plunged the countries football scene into chaos. WIth over half of its top division clubs punished with point deductions and fines.

More than half of the Chinese Super League clubs will start the new season on minus points 😮 pic.twitter.com/fUiXpKRWtP

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 29, 2026

Ten years ago, China was set to become a global force in football. WIth lucrative sponsorship and the nation's government aiming to turn the country into a superpower within the beautiful game, club's were given the funding to attract some of Europe's top stars.

The summer and winter transfer windows of 2015/16 saw unprecedented spending which rocked the football world. With stars like Oscar, Hulk, Alex Teixeira, Jackson Martinez and Ramires all moving to the nation during their peak years in their career. And with the wages being offered, it was not hard to see why.

Out of all the high profile transfers during the golden era for Chinese football between 2016-2018, the transfer of Oscar was the most expensive, and the most shocking. The Brazilian playmaker was 25 years old, in his prime years at Chelsea and was very much regarded as a high level Premier League player with multiple top European clubs interested in him. However, Shanghai Port SIPG secured his signature for a fee estimated to be worth around £60 million, an Asian transfer record.

Oscar's reported salary in Shanghai was said to be worth around £400,000 a week, making it an annual salary of over £20 million. Making him one of the highest paid footballers in the world at the time.

Over his seven-year stay in China, Oscar has so far earned more than "€175 million" in wages alone.

{Sports Bible} pic.twitter.com/rNOR8rSiBP

— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) July 2, 2024

But a decade on, the sport in China has fallen dramatically.

In January 2020, the Chinese government announced it was to impose an individual salary cap of $3 million a year for foreign players in the CSL in order to try and boost local talent coming through for the national team. As a result, many high profile players who had moved from Europe left the country. Including Hulk, Yannick Carrasco and Axel Witsel.

Since then, things have gone downhill for Chinese football, but despite a resurgence in attendances over the last year, recently things have reached a new low.

The nation has banned 73 people working in football for life and deducted points from 13 of its clubs, nine of which compete in the CSL. Including champions Shanghai Port and runners-up Shanghai Shenhua, who received the biggest punishment of 10 points. With other clubs being docked seven, five and six points respectively, with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) stating that the decisions on the respective punishments were "based on the amount, circumstances, nature and social impact."

🇨🇳 The Chinese Super League looks set to be one of the world's strangest leagues in 2026, with over half of the teams starting on minus points.

Nine of the 16 teams have been deducted between 5 and 10 points for historic offences related to match-fixing, gambling & corruption. pic.twitter.com/oGU99zMhM9

— The Sweeper (@SweeperPod) January 29, 2026

In total, 72 points have been deducted from 13 clubs across the country's top two divisions, with total fines reportiably reaching up to £750,000.

The punishment's are a result of an investigation into match fixing and football-related gambling, with reports going all the way back to 2012. One of those that have received a lifetime ban is Li Tie, former head coach of the Chinese national team and ex player for Everton. In 2024, Li was handed a 20-year prison sentence as a result of offering and accepting bribes.

With the new Chinese Super League season set to start next month, there is uncertainty amongst the chaos in the country's football scene about where they go from here. With multiple top clubs, individuals and officials being found guilty of manipulating matches and corruption, serious questions have been raised over the legitimacy of football in the nation and how so many could have committed such crimes.

What faces football in China is a season with over half of the top flight, including the top two clubs from the previous season, beginning the campaign on minus points, as the CFA looks to rebuild a seemingly desperate situation.

Time will tell how the situation affects the league's attendance in the new season, as fans question the legitimacy of the league and their clubs. However, what is certain is that there is not a league in the world that faces a more unique season as the clubs involved and the football industry in China as a whole looks to rebuild themselves as it looks to try and get back to how it was a decade ago.