China's professional football organisation has dropped 37 clubs, from the country's first and second divisions, for failing to settle their financial debts from the football scene, as it announced in 2023

Full article

Chinese Football Association publishes list of 41 clubs eligible to compete in 2025

The Chinese Football Association on Monday released the first provisional list of clubs that will compete in the professional leagues in 2025, starting with the 22nd edition of the Chinese Super League (CSL). Out of 78 registered clubs in the country, only 41 have been included in the Chinese football body's initial list.

The only requirement necessary to play was that the submitted clubs settle all their accumulated football debts before the start of next year, including salary arrears, inter-club transactions and payments to technical staff. The review of this fundamental element started in October 2023 with salary payments made between 1 November 2023 and 31 October 2024.

Chinese football has been affected by ongoing cases of corruption of its officials, the impact of COVID and the economic slowdown in recent years. A situation that has taken away some 30 professional clubs since 2020.

The last champion of the Chinese Super League in 2022, Wuhan Three Town, which had the Spaniard Pedro Morilla at the helm, is one of the clubs that have been left off the list. Also missing from League One (CL1) is the most successful club in the top flight with eight titles and two AFC Champions League titles, Guangzhou FC, along with Meizhou Hakka, Nanjing City, Yanbian Longding and Heilonggjiang Ice City.

From League Two (CL2) there are also major clubs that have failed to meet the initial requirements, including Ganzhou Ruishi, Jiangxi Lushan, Hunna Billows and Tai'an Tiankuang.

However, the CFA has indicated that the preliminary list of teams to play in China's professional football competitions does not guarantee their participation, and that it will allow more time for the damaged clubs to resolve their financial problems and have the opportunity to return to play. Updates to the list will be announced in the coming weeks.