The decision was announced at a joint press conference in Beijing held by the General Administration of Sport of China, the Ministry of Public Security and the CFA, where authorities also outlined criminal investigations into football-related gambling and match manipulation, as well as corresponding disciplinary measures against individuals and clubs.
Li, a former Everton player who led the national team from 2019 to 2021, is already serving a 20-year prison sentence for bribery, after being sentenced in December 2024.
According to the CFA, the 73 individuals also include former deputy director of General Administration of Sport of China Du Zhaocai, former Chinese women’s national team head coach Hao Wei and former Chinese international Qin Sheng.
A total of 13 clubs were sanctioned with points deductions for the 2026 season, including nine Chinese Super League (CSL) sides and four China League One teams.
Among CSL clubs, points deductions range from five to 10 points, with Tianjin Jinmen Tigers and Shanghai Shenhua receiving the heaviest penalties.
Other affected CSL teams include Qingdao Hainiu, Wuhan Three Towns, Shandong Taishan, Henan FC, Zhejiang FC, Shanghai Port and Beijing Guoan.
In China League One, Meizhou Hakka, Changchun Yatai, Suzhou Dongwu and Ningbo FC were penalised with point deductions ranging from three to four points.
All 13 clubs were also fined, with financial penalties ranging from 200,000 yuan to one million yuan, the CFA said. (Xinhua, with additional reporting by AFP)
