CFA: 17 individuals banned for life

Following previous rounds in September 2024 and January 2026, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced its third batch of sanctions on May 21. A total of 65 individuals are penalized — 17 receive lifetime bans from any football-related activities, and 48 receive bans of five years or less.

The CFA statement is as follows:

Recently, the CFA Disciplinary and Ethics Committee systematically reviewed and carefully examined case materials regarding match-fixing, gambling, and corruption in football. In accordance with the CFA Disciplinary Code and relevant regulations, the committee completed its disciplinary review of the individuals and clubs involved. To uphold industry discipline, clean up the football environment, and protect competitive fairness, the penalties are announced as follows:

I. Individual Penalties

(a) For 17 football professionals, including Ding Yong and Wu Jingbo, who have been criminally convicted by court judgment, a lifetime ban from any football-related activities is imposed.

(b) For 48 football professionals, including Gao Han and Wang Bo, who seriously violated industry discipline, bans of five years or less are imposed based on the nature of their conduct, amounts involved, frequency of violations, and degree of culpability.

II. Club Penalty

Based on newly obtained criminal court judgments revealing additional serious violations by Meizhou Hakka Football Club, and following past disciplinary principles for similar cases, the club is penalized as follows: an additional deduction of 6 league points in the 2026 season, and an additional fine of RMB 800,000.

All member associations, clubs, and football professionals must learn from these cases, remain vigilant, and draw firm red lines — resolutely rejecting match-fixing, gambling, corruption, and any other conduct that undermines fair competition. The CFA will continue to implement central government policies on football revitalization, maintain high pressure on violations, advance governance reforms in sports, strengthen industry discipline, improve long-term supervision mechanisms, and work toward a fundamental improvement in football's environment.

Chinese Football Association

May 21, 2026

Appendix:

Lifetime bans:

Meng Jing, Tan Xu, Shi Yaoyong, Ding Yong, Zeng Zhenyu, Qiu Jiehua, Li Xiaogang, Cao Yang, Sun Di, Gao Xiang, Zhao Yang, Wu Jingbo, Chen Junji, Li Jun, Wang Wenhua, Xu Jian, Jin Qingyi

Five-year bans (May 21, 2026 – May 20, 2031):

Gao Han, Huang Shenghua, Zhang Bin, Wu Xiaohui, Fang Silong, Sun Hua, Gao Yan, Sui Guoyang, Li Ming, Guo Guangqi, Jiao Fengbo, Huang Fannong, Chen Xin, Li Shen, Chen Qi, Chen Fangzhou, Ding Dongmei, Hu Yanming, Huang Lei, Liu Yuchen, Liu Yusheng, Mai Fan, Sang Yifei, Song Chen, Tao Tingting, Xiong Fei, Zhang Ye, Zhu Qingwei, Zhu Zilin, Liu Xinyao, He Zhengyuan, Yan Mingchao, Yan Zhiyu, Wu Peng, Yang Boyu, Liu Yi, Nizamdin Afanti, Jia Xiaochen, Jiang Wenjun, Zhu Zisen, Wang Jingping, Zhang Song, Guo Zichao, Wang Bo, Chen Mao, Yuan Mingcan, and others

Three-year ban (May 21, 2026 – May 20, 2029):

Qi Yunfei