More heavy penalties handed down by CFA

This undated photo shows the logo of the Chinese Football Association. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

As part of its ongoing crackdown on match-fixing, gambling and corruption, the Chinese Football Association on Wednesday handed down a latest round of penalties to a total of 65 former national team players, top-tier club executives, coaches and referees.

Of that number, 17 individuals, including Ding Yong, ex-GM of the Chinese Super League's inaugural winner Shenzhen FC and Tan Xu, former deputy GM of CSL club Qingdao Hainiu, have been banned for life from all soccer-related activities, after being convicted of criminal offenses by people's courts in their respective cities or provinces.

Of the remaining 48 people, all of whom received bans of three to five years, former Chinese national team captain Li Ming, who represented Team China in 75 matches and was a key member of China's 2002 World Cup qualifying squad, is the highest-profile figure, who has stepped down as GM of the capital's CSL club, Beijing Guo'an, after spending nine years in the club's management.

In addition, second-tier club Meizhou Hakka FC was docked six ranking points for the current China League One season and fined 800,000 yuan ($11,763) for additional serious violations uncovered during the latest judicial reviews.

It's been the third batch of penalties announced since the CFA launched its nationwide anti-graft campaign together with the country's public security and prosecuting authorities.

Among the second round of penalties announced in January, former CFA president Chen Xuyuan, former CFA Party chief Du Zhaocai, who was also a vice-sports minister, and ex-national team midfielder and manager Li Tie, were handed lifetime bans after being sentenced to prison terms ranging from 14 years to life.

The CFA's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee said in an official statement that the latest penalties aim to uphold the sport's discipline, clean up soccer's overall environment and safeguard competitive fairness.

"The CFA will continue to cooperate closely with judicial authorities, deepen the anti-corruption campaign and impose severe punishment for any violations that damage the sport's integrity," the statement read.

Insiders and fans have broadly welcomed the tough stance, with many calling for greater transparency in future investigations and stricter oversight of club finances and transfer dealings.