Politics Ruined Football: China’s Bribery and Game Manipulation Crisis
- The state of Chinese soccer faces scrutiny after a critically important defeat adn ongoing challenges.
- This score serves as a stark indicator of the decline of Chinese football.
- The Chinese men's soccer team suffered a humiliating defeat against Japan during the 2026 North American world Cup Asian qualifiers in Saitama, Japan, last September.
The Decline of Chinese Football: A Score of 7-0 Tells the Story
Table of Contents
- The Decline of Chinese Football: A Score of 7-0 Tells the Story
- Teh Decline of Chinese Football: A Crisis in the Making
- What is the current state of Chinese football?
- What were the key goals for Chinese football?
- What factors have contributed to the struggles of Chinese football?
- How does political influence affect Chinese football?
- What role has corruption played in the decline of Chinese football?
- How does the structure of Chinese football compare to other countries?
- What are some criticisms of the approach to Chinese football?
- Has there been significant investment in Chinese football?
- What are some of the significant losses?
- Key Differences: China vs. U.K. Football Development
The state of Chinese soccer faces scrutiny after a critically important defeat adn ongoing challenges.
7-0. This score serves as a stark indicator of the decline of Chinese football.
The Chinese men’s soccer team suffered a humiliating defeat against Japan during the 2026 North American world Cup Asian qualifiers in Saitama, Japan, last September. This 7-0 loss marked China’s worst defeat in World Cup qualifier history.
The BBC has analyzed the reasons behind the sluggish performance of Chinese football in a piece titled Dream of Football Power, Shattered China.
Late last year, numerous individuals, including supervisors, administrators, and club officials, were subjected to investigations and arrests related to gambling, game manipulation, and bribery. These actions were the result of a two-year effort by Chinese authorities. Despite these efforts, the national team’s losing streak continues. recently, China lost 2-0 to Australia, dropping to the bottom of the World Cup Asian qualifiers.Social media in China has seen responses such as, We pay homage to the consistent performance of the national team.
China once aspired to become a dominant force in soccer, leveraging its large population and rapidly growing economy. President Xi Jinping expressed his hopes for China to reach the World cup finals, host the World Cup, and ultimately win the World Cup. However, more than a decade later, that confidence has waned. Xi Jinping reportedly remarked last year that he was lucky to secure a win against Thailand during a brief conversation with the Thai Prime Minister.
Experts suggest that the failures of Chinese football are intertwined with the political system. One sports journalist based in Beijing noted that If the Chinese government is willing,it is indeed mostly done.
A 2015 government report even indicated that the Football Association must be independant from the Sports Bureau.
While Xi Jinping stated that Soccer should be removed by the government,
these words have not translated into action. The head of the China Football Association (CFA) remains a member of the Communist Party, and decisions are subject to approval from high-ranking officials. This means political officials, rather than soccer experts, are leading football. The journalist criticized this approach, stating that football should start from below. Children must kick the ball in the village and develop technology and creativity. China is entirely the opposite.
In the U.K., there are 1.3 million registered soccer players, while China has only 100,000. This illustrates how china’s soccer pyramid is inverted, with a vulnerable grassroots culture and an over-reliance on an elite system directed by high-level authorities. A foreign player in the Chinese League observed, The technology is fine, but there is not enough judgment, or ‘soccer IQ’.
China,which established a professional league in the 1990s,initially focused on major cities like Beijing,neglecting local football and amateur leagues. Party executives prioritized short-term achievements, which distorted the sport’s growth.
The China super League once boasted the highest spending in Asia, attracting numerous international stars in the 2010s. However, the economic downturn coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic led to the withdrawal of state-owned enterprises and private capital. Since 2020, over 40 professional teams have disappeared. Suning Group, the parent company of the 2020 champion Jiangsu FC and former owner of Inter Milan, announced its focus woudl shift to retail. Guangzhou Everland,once dubbed the Chinese Real Madrid,
was dismantled when its parent company,Evergrande Group,faced a real estate crisis.
Corruption within Chinese soccer is more than just suspicion. Li Cheng, a former national coach in 2024, admitted to paying 3 million yuan (approximately $415,000 USD) as a bribe to secure a supervisory position. Othre high-ranking officials, including former chairmen of the Football Association and deputy directors of the National Sports Bureau, have also confessed. In 2015, a national team player revealed to the BBC that the selection of the national team was virtually an open bid.
One journalist wrote that soccer is singing hymns,and it is not strong to tell the story,
emphasizing that Football needs skill,physical strength and tactical training.
The BBC has stated that soccer, ‘peopel’s game’ cannot be with the game of power.
Teh Decline of Chinese Football: A Crisis in the Making
Explore the factors contributing to challenges within Chinese soccer.
What is the current state of Chinese football?
The Chinese men’s national team faces significant challenges, highlighted by a recent 7-0 defeat against japan during the 2026 North American World Cup Asian qualifiers in Saitama, Japan, in September. This loss marks China’s worst defeat in World Cup qualifier history, serving as a stark indicator of the decline in Chinese football.
What were the key goals for Chinese football?
China once aspired to become a dominant force in soccer. President Xi Jinping expressed strong hopes for the team to reach the World Cup finals, host the World Cup, and ultimately win the World Cup.
What factors have contributed to the struggles of Chinese football?
Multiple factors have contributed to the struggles of Chinese football, including:
- Political Interference: Decisions within the China Football Association (CFA) are subject to approval from high-ranking officials, indicating political officials, rather than soccer experts, are leading football.
- Corruption: Instances of corruption, including bribery, game manipulation, and the selling of positions, have been uncovered. In 2024, Li Cheng, a former national coach, admitted to paying a substantial bribe to secure a supervisory position.
- Grassroots Advancement: there is a lack of emphasis on grassroots development, with a disparity in registered players compared to other nations. For example, there are only 100,000 registered soccer players in china, compared to 1.3 million in the U.K.
- Economic Downturn: The economic downturn and the COVID-19 pandemic led to the withdrawal of state-owned enterprises and private capital. As 2020, over 40 professional teams have disappeared.
How does political influence affect Chinese football?
Experts suggest that the failures of Chinese football are intertwined with the political system. The head of the China Football Association (CFA) remains a member of the Communist Party, and decisions are subject to approval from high-ranking officials, which could be preventing progress.
What role has corruption played in the decline of Chinese football?
Corruption has considerably impacted Chinese football, with high-ranking officials admitting to bribery and match-fixing.A former national coach admitted to paying a substantial bribe to secure a supervisory position. These actions undermine the integrity and development of the sport.
How does the structure of Chinese football compare to other countries?
The structure of Chinese football is frequently enough described as an “inverted pyramid,” with a weak grassroots culture and an over-reliance on an elite system. In contrast, countries like the U.K. have a robust grassroots system with a large number of registered players,fostering talent development from the ground up.
What are some criticisms of the approach to Chinese football?
A journalist has stated: “football should start from below. Children must kick the ball in the village and develop technology and creativity. China is entirely the opposite.”
Has there been significant investment in Chinese football?
The China super League once boasted the highest spending in Asia, attracting numerous international stars in the 2010s. Though, this era of high spending has waned due to economic factors and the pandemic, leading to the collapse of teams.
What are some of the significant losses?
In addition to the 7-0 loss to Japan, China recently lost 2-0 to australia, dropping to the bottom of the World Cup Asian qualifiers, showing a decline.
Key Differences: China vs. U.K. Football Development
The table below highlights key differences in the development of football between China and the U.K., based on the available information:
| feature | China | United Kingdom (U.K.) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Players | 100,000 | 1.3 million |
| Grassroots Development | Lacking, with an inverted pyramid structure | Robust, supporting a strong base |
| Political Influence | High, with decisions subject to government approval | Less direct involvement, with more focus on expertise |
| Financial Investment | Significant in the past, now declining | Typically stable, based on clubs with their own resources |