https://www.scmp.com/rss/201596/feed The Chinese Football Association (CFA) was founded in 1924 and is the main governing body for soccer in China. The group officially affiliated itself with Fifa in 1931 and joined the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1974. The CFA runs the national men's, women's and youth teams for soccer, beach soccer and futsal. The CFA is governed by the Chinese State General Administration of Sports. In 2012, two former CFA chiefs, a former national team captain, the country's top referee, and at least... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ada Li Ada Li Football match-fixing has raised its ugly head again in China, this time involving an under-10 boys’ game in Beijing where two teams scored six own goals between them. The China Youth Football League clash between top-ranked sides Dongcheng Sports School 16 Orange and Kickers Lan finished 3-3, as both tried to avoid winning their group, thereby securing an easier route through the knockout stages. Video of the game at Xiaojiahe Lvdong Tiandi Football Field quickly went viral, and the predictable... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3349665/childrens-tournament-centre-latest-match-fixing-scandal-china-football?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3349665/childrens-tournament-centre-latest-match-fixing-scandal-china-football?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:40:24 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang China’s under-16 women’s team moved into second place at the Montaigu Football World Cup after a 2-1 victory over hosts France on Wednesday, their second consecutive win in the six-team tournament. Zhou Jintong and He Fengqingyang both scored as the visitors triumphed at the Stade Maxime Bossis. China took the lead in the 15th minute when Zhou curled a free kick into the top corner. They doubled their advantage in the 45th minute after He controlled a long pass in the box and scored with a shot... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3348833/china-under-16-womens-team-beat-hosts-france-second-win-invitational-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3348833/china-under-16-womens-team-beat-hosts-france-second-win-invitational-event?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters China’s football team received a reality check on Tuesday when they conceded two early goals to lose 2-0 to Cameroon in a Fifa Series match at AAMI Park in Melbourne. The defeat against the physically strong African side came four days after Shao Jiayi’s team had beaten World Cup-bound Curacao by the same score last Friday. Both China and Cameroon failed to qualify for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico starting in June. Cameroon, who are ranked inside the world top 50, took... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3348564/china-football-team-sucker-punched-early-goals-wake-call-against-cameroon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3348564/china-football-team-sucker-punched-early-goals-wake-call-against-cameroon?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:30:08 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Chinese Olympic speed skating champion Ning Zhongyan is set to trade his blades for football boots, joining his hometown side Harbin to play in the 2026 Northeast China City Football League. Ning, who won the 1,500m speed skating event at last month’s 2026 Winter Olympics, could face another gold medallist on the football pitch, with Milano-Cortina aerials skiing champion Wang Xindi also confirming his participation in the same tournament. Ning, 26, will arrive for the amateur tournament, which... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3348202/chinese-winter-olympic-champions-ning-zhongyan-wang-xindi-play-football-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3348202/chinese-winter-olympic-champions-ning-zhongyan-wang-xindi-play-football-league?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 02:00:18 +0000 Ada Li,Mike Chan Ada Li,Mike Chan China football bosses have banned 73 people for life, including former Chinese Football Association (CFA) president Chen Xuyuan and ex-national team coach Li Tie, and hit 13 clubs with a range of punishments in its ongoing battle against match-fixing and corruption. On Thursday, officials said another three people had been handed five-year bans for “unlawful acts”, although unlike disgraced pair Li and Chen, who are now behind bars, the trio were not prosecuted. Meanwhile, several clubs,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3341630/china-bans-73-people-all-football-life-will-punish-13-clubs-ahead-2026-season?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3341630/china-bans-73-people-all-football-life-will-punish-13-clubs-ahead-2026-season?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 04:27:05 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang China’s under-23 football team returned home to a heroes’ welcome despite losing the final of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup to Japan. A large group of fans greeted the team at Beijing Daxing Airport on Monday, chanting “Welcome home, heroes”. The exploits of the team in Saudi Arabia have even turned some of the players into overnight stars, with goalkeeper Li Hao’s outstanding performances at the tournament helping to increase his social media following by more than 600,000 followers. And captain Xu... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3341449/chinese-under-23-football-team-receive-rapturous-welcome-home-after-afc-asian-cup-run?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3341449/chinese-under-23-football-team-receive-rapturous-welcome-home-after-afc-asian-cup-run?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:30:08 +0000 SCMP Sport,Agence France-Presse SCMP Sport,Agence France-Presse China defender Hu Hetao acknowledged his team “failed to show our best game” after they were beaten by Japan in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup final on Saturday, but coach Antonio Puche Vicente called for a balanced response as the nation missed out on a first continental title at ‍any level for more than two decades. And despite the 4-0 loss in Saudi Arabia, a General Administration of Sport of China (GASC) statement gave credit to the team for “igniting new hope for the revitalisation of Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3341143/china-fail-show-best-game-asian-cup-final-humbling-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3341143/china-fail-show-best-game-asian-cup-final-humbling-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 04:14:14 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li A large number of Chinese football fans are expected to head to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this Saturday to support China’s under-23 team in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup final, following the team’s historic run at the tournament. China beat Vietnam 3-0 in Tuesday’s semi-final to reach the final for the first time, where they will face Japan. With many supporters choosing to travel to Saudi Arabia to watch the young team in person, on Chinese social media platform RedNote, fans have been posting photos of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3340851/china-football-fans-set-flock-saudi-arabia-support-under-23-team-asian-cup-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3340851/china-football-fans-set-flock-saudi-arabia-support-under-23-team-asian-cup-final?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:39:42 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li China’s under-23 football team are on the verge of winning their first ever AFC U-23 Asian Cup after defying expectations at the tournament in Saudi Arabia. Following the young team’s 3-0 victory over Vietnam in the semi-finals, they will face Japan in Saturday’s final, after the Japanese team beat South Korea 1-0 in the other semi-final. The Chinese football team have taken part in all seven editions of the tournament since its inception in 2013, but had never made it out of the group... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3340695/china-defy-expectations-reach-first-ever-final-afc-u-23-asian-cup-against-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3340695/china-defy-expectations-reach-first-ever-final-afc-u-23-asian-cup-against-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:36:17 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li China’s under-23 football team made history by advancing to the quarter-finals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup for the first time after drawing 0-0 with Thailand in their final Group D match on Wednesday. The result left China second in the group with one win and two draws, behind Australia, who topped the standings on goal difference after beating Iraq 2-1. The group games were played in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. China will face Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals in Jeddah on Saturday. China’s campaign... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3339978/china-make-history-advancing-quarter-finals-afc-u-23-asian-cup-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3339978/china-make-history-advancing-quarter-finals-afc-u-23-asian-cup-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 07:00:29 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan An entrepreneur in China has come under fire for promising to gift a car to every member of a city’s football team if they won an important competition, then reneging on her promise when they did. While many people criticised the woman, the local football association said it would not push the woman to fulfil her promise, saying they understood her financial predicament. The response was viewed 22 million times on one mainland social media platform alone. It also attracted praise from the state... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339003/china-entrepreneur-promises-football-team-players-car-each-retracts-offer-after-landmark-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339003/china-entrepreneur-promises-football-team-players-car-each-retracts-offer-after-landmark-win?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 06:00:10 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Football chiefs in Asia plan to launch a new Nations League, opening up the prospect of Hong Kong playing more regular games against the likes of China, Chinese Taipei and others in the region. Officials at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said the new competition would be aimed at improving standards and commercial opportunities for international teams across the continent. While no ⁠start date was given by the Kuala Lumpur-based governing body, it said it intended to use existing Fifa... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3337282/hong-kongs-footballers-could-play-china-chinese-taipei-regularly-new-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3337282/hong-kongs-footballers-could-play-china-chinese-taipei-regularly-new-league?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 05:55:47 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Football fans in China have voiced hope that Shao Jiayi will be given time to make an impact after the former international was appointed as the latest head coach of the struggling men’s national team on Wednesday. Shao, 45, became the third member of China’s 2002 World Cup squad to take the hot seat, following Li Tie – last year sentenced to 20 years in prison for corruption – and Li Xiaopeng. The 2002 tournament remains China’s sole appearance, and the country’s failure to qualify for the 2026... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3331724/chinese-football-fans-urge-more-support-less-interference-new-coach-shao?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3331724/chinese-football-fans-urge-more-support-less-interference-new-coach-shao?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 05:10:36 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Togo international footballer Samuel Asamoah could be left paralysed after he collided with an advertising board and broke his neck during a match in the second tier of Chinese football, his club has said. Video footage showed Asamoah, who plays for Guangxi Pingguo in China League One, being barged into from behind by Chongqing Tonglianglong’s Zhang Zhixiong during Sunday’s match. The push, for which Zhang received a yellow card, forced Asamoah to plough headfirst into the LED advertising... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3328492/togo-football-international-asamoah-paralysis-fear-after-collision-during-china-match?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3328492/togo-football-international-asamoah-paralysis-fear-after-collision-during-china-match?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 06:21:59 +0000 Reuters Reuters China women’s head coach Ante Milicic believes the reigning Asian champions must stop dwelling on past success or risk falling further behind the game’s leading nations as investment in the sport increases globally. The Australian was appointed to the role in May last year after the Steel Roses’ poor showing at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and the failure to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games led to the departure of former coach Shui Qingxia. Shui had steered the country to a record ninth Women’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3324977/china-boss-milicic-wants-country-focus-future-or-risk-falling-further-behind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3324977/china-boss-milicic-wants-country-focus-future-or-risk-falling-further-behind?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 04:00:15 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara An influential figure in Chinese football has said that encouraging young players to abandon their societal shackles is critical for progress, as the World Football Summit began on Wednesday in Hong Kong. Staged at AsiaWorld-Expo, the industry powwow has attracted around 4,000 attendees for a series of panel discussions covering topics from the growth of women’s football, through smart stadiums, to the depths and vision of the Chinese football landscape. Speaking on the latter panel, Pere... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3324224/china-football-tipped-come-back-brink-day-1-world-summit-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3324224/china-football-tipped-come-back-brink-day-1-world-summit-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:23:51 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Estonian club JK Tallinna Kalev are in pole position to sign Michael Udebuluzor after the Hong Kong striker decided to continue his career in Europe. A move for Udebuluzor to China League One club Suzhou Dongwu collapsed last month following remarks he made after Hong Kong’s East Asian Football Championship defeat by China. Udebuluzor, who had playfully told Hong Kong supporters, “Look at the Chinese fans; next time we’ll beat these b******s”, subsequently revealed to the Post he was unlikely to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322650/hong-kong-striker-udebuluzor-closing-estonia-transfer-amid-rival-spanish-interest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322650/hong-kong-striker-udebuluzor-closing-estonia-transfer-amid-rival-spanish-interest?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:00:11 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Two more Chinese football officials were sent to prison for more than a decade and ordered to pay huge fines on Wednesday, the latest move in an ongoing corruption crackdown in the sport. Liu Jun, the former chairman of the Chinese Super League company, was given an 11-year jail term by a court in central Hubei province, and was also fined 1.1 million yuan (US$153,000) on charges of “bribery”. State media said Liu’s “illegal gains resulting from the bribery” would be recovered and turned over to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320079/two-more-chinese-football-officials-jailed-and-fined-corruption-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320079/two-more-chinese-football-officials-jailed-and-fined-corruption-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 03:59:53 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Hong Kong striker Michael Udebuluzor has confirmed his time with Suzhou Dongwu was over before it started, after the club announced it had “terminated the player’s reporting process”. Days of rumour and speculation ended late on Friday, when the mainland club finally commented on a situation sparked by Udebuluzor calling Chinese supporters “b******s” after after his side’s 1-0 defeat to China in the East Asian Football Championship on Tuesday. In response, the 21-year-old was subjected to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3318848/hong-kong-striker-michael-udebuluzor-sacked-china-club-24-hours-after-signing-contract?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3318848/hong-kong-striker-michael-udebuluzor-sacked-china-club-24-hours-after-signing-contract?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Jul 2025 06:56:46 +0000 Lars Hamer,Paul McNamara Lars Hamer,Paul McNamara Hong Kong striker Michael Udebuluzor has been hammered on social media over comments he made after Tuesday’s East Asian Football Championship match against China. China won a tight affair 1-0 in South Korea and following the clash, Udebuluzor addressed the travelling Hong Kong fans, who outnumbered their mainland counterparts, using a megaphone to thank them for their support, adding: “Look at the Chinese fans, next time we’ll beat these b******s”. The incident occurred just 24 hours after the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3318582/hong-kong-striker-angers-china-fans-post-match-comments-asks-forgiveness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3318582/hong-kong-striker-angers-china-fans-post-match-comments-asks-forgiveness?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Hong Kong football bosses have moved to defuse a controversy that had threatened to blow up ahead of the city team’s clash with China on Tuesday. With Ashley Westwood’s side seeking a first win over their neighbours since 1985, rumours had surfaced that several players contracted to mainland clubs could be recalled after the team’s loss to South Korea on Friday. While clubs are not obligated to release players for the East Asian Football Championship because it falls outside a Fifa window,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3318030/east-asian-football-championships-chan-recall-sign-china-are-running-scared-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3318030/east-asian-football-championships-chan-recall-sign-china-are-running-scared-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Jul 2025 07:02:19 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Japan set up a final-day East Asian Football Championship title shoot-out with South Korea, after they beat China 2-0 in Seoul on Saturday. In a mirror image of the past two editions, in 2019 and 2022, Hong Kong will fight the Chinese to avoid the ignominy of claiming the tournament’s wooden spoon. And while hopes have been high of a first Hong Kong victory in 40 years, China were more organised, aggressive and ambitious against Japan than in their 3-0 loss to the Koreans five days earlier. Six... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317996/east-asian-championship-china-lose-japan-face-hong-kong-wooden-spoon-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317996/east-asian-championship-china-lose-japan-face-hong-kong-wooden-spoon-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Jul 2025 12:28:04 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Exactly 26 years after being beaten on penalties in the World Cup final by the United States, China’s women have been warned they are in danger of not even being the best side in Asia. While their 1999 rivals have gone on to win the global tournament twice more, and added four Olympic golds, the Steel Roses have spiralled and are now ranked 17th in the world, with Asian Games and Asian Cup golds the peak of their achievements. On Wednesday, they were held to a 2-2 draw by South Korea in their... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317641/26-years-after-world-cup-final-loss-usa-are-chinas-women-even-best-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317641/26-years-after-world-cup-final-loss-usa-are-chinas-women-even-best-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:30:07 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara As four male head coaches get set to lead their teams in the women’s East Asian Football Championship, the China captain Wu Haiyan said it “would be a very good improvement for football” if more women filled the top Asian jobs. Wu’s international boss is Ante Milicic, who was appointed in May last year after Shui Qingxia was sacked following China’s failed Olympic qualifying campaign. The six China bosses before Shui, who was in charge for two years until November 2023, were all men. China will... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317374/give-women-top-jobs-says-chinas-wu-4-men-take-charge-asia-football-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317374/give-women-top-jobs-says-chinas-wu-4-men-take-charge-asia-football-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jul 2025 01:00:12 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara South Korea were missing their A-list stars but they did not need Son Heung-min or Lee Kang-in to sweep aside China 3-0 in their opening East Asian Football Championship game on Monday. The lesser-heralded Lee Dong-gyeong and Joo Min-kyu were more than good enough to exploit an inexperienced opposition’s poor defending, putting their side 2-0 up at half-time at Yongin Mireu Stadium. Centre-back Kim Ju-sung rammed home following a 57th-minute corner, at which point South Korea boss Hong Myung-bo... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317181/china-boss-djurdjevic-eyes-south-korea-clash-fresh-start-struggling-national-team?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317181/china-boss-djurdjevic-eyes-south-korea-clash-fresh-start-struggling-national-team?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 03:09:33 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer A football club in China has been fined 30,000 yuan (US$4,000) for channelling evil spirits to help them beat their rivals. Changchun Xidu Football Club, who play in the country’s third tier, were found guilty of putting “feudal superstition items” in their opponents’ dressing room. Second in League 2 North, they were finally caught after placing the paper talismans in Shanxi Chongde Ronghai’s changing room before their home match on Saturday. Changchun went on to win the game 2-0 against their... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316772/chinese-football-team-fined-channelling-evil-spirits-help-beat-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316772/chinese-football-team-fined-channelling-evil-spirits-help-beat-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Chinese Super League (CSL) leaders Beijing Guoan have had their team bus seized, forcing players to return from training using shared bikes, as the club’s parent company struggles with billions of yuan of debt. Pictures on social media on Friday showed the team bus being towed away with its door bearing a seal from the Beijing Intermediate People’s Court. Images then started circulating on Chinese social media showing three of the club’s foreign players hiring shared bikes and riding away from... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316230/team-bus-csl-leaders-beijing-guoan-seized-over-debt-issues-players-forced-hire-bikes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316230/team-bus-csl-leaders-beijing-guoan-seized-over-debt-issues-players-forced-hire-bikes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 13:30:09 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport The Chinese Football Association has finally confirmed what everyone already knew, that head coach Branko Ivankovic had been fired after his side’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. In a statement released on its website, the CFA thanked Ivankovic and said Dejan Djurdjevic, who led China to the quarter-finals of the Under-20 Asian Cup in Shenzhen in February, would take over on a caretaker basis for next month’s East Asian Championship in South Korea, which also includes Hong Kong and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3316192/ivankovic-out-chinese-football-bosses-finally-confirm-sacking-after-world-cup-failure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3316192/ivankovic-out-chinese-football-bosses-finally-confirm-sacking-after-world-cup-failure?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 03:21:49 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan South Korean Shin Tae-yong said he would jump at the chance to manage the Chinese men’s national football team if asked to do so - although there is no official word as to whether the role is even up for grabs. While multiple reports in mainland China claimed Branko Ivankovic had been sacked after his side’s failure to reach the 2026 World Cup, the country’s football association has not said anything despite that being the expected outcome following a 1-0 defeat to Indonesia this... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3314769/branko-ivankovic-fate-mystery-china-eye-south-koreas-shin-top-football-job?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3314769/branko-ivankovic-fate-mystery-china-eye-south-koreas-shin-top-football-job?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Jun 2025 11:00:08 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer A top Chinese football boss has launched a scathing attack on the state of the game in the country, calling the national team a “fourth-rate” side. Song Kai’s damning verdict came after the men’s side lost 7-0 to Japan last September, but was only revealed by state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday, in the first episode of the series Dialogue with Chinese Football, titled Disparity. The Chinese Football Association president made the comments when meeting with youth team coaches following the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3314034/top-china-football-boss-says-mens-national-team-fourth-rate-and-we-never-learn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3314034/top-china-football-boss-says-mens-national-team-fourth-rate-and-we-never-learn?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Jun 2025 12:00:07 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport China fans are used to being disappointed by their men’s football team, but having their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup dashed by Indonesia appears to have been the final straw. A 1-0 defeat in Jakarta on Thursday was the first time, according to Chinese state media, they had lost to their rivals in 68 years. Their opponents, meanwhile, suggested it was only 38 years, pointing to a match in the King’s Cup in Thailand in 1987, when a Galatama XI beat Hubei 3-1. Either way, social media was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3313292/ivankovic-accepts-responsibility-chinas-elimination-world-cup-qualifiers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3313292/ivankovic-accepts-responsibility-chinas-elimination-world-cup-qualifiers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 04:00:18 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Canton United, an amateur team playing in mainland China’s fourth tier, have announced the signing of former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain forward Jeremy Menez, as they attempt to join the Hong Kong Premier League. The club, who are based in Guangzhou, wrote on Weibo that they had signed the former French international, who retired last September. Menez, 38, has not commented publicly on the move, but Canton said he would join in July. The Post has contacted Menez for comment. “We are pleased... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3312454/chinese-club-sign-ex-psg-ac-milan-star-target-place-hong-kong-premier-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3312454/chinese-club-sign-ex-psg-ac-milan-star-target-place-hong-kong-premier-league?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 May 2025 12:00:13 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport A court in China on Wednesday dismissed an appeal by Li Tie, the former footballer and coach, against his 20-year prison sentence for corruption. The Hubei Provincial Higher People’s Court rejected the appeal and upheld the original sentence imposed on the former men’s national team head coach, mainland Chinese media reported. Li, who formerly played in midfield for Everton in the English Premier League and represented China in the 2002 World Cup, had lodged an appeal 10 days after being... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3308463/chinese-football-legend-li-tie-loses-his-appeal-against-corruption-sentence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3308463/chinese-football-legend-li-tie-loses-his-appeal-against-corruption-sentence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Apr 2025 03:20:18 +0000 With a Chinese mother, American father and a solid start to life in Major League Soccer under his belt, Beau Leroux could be forgiven for thinking about where his international loyalties might lie. But while the San Jose Earthquakes midfielder said representing China had crossed his mind, his focus was firmly on earning a spot in the United States squad ahead of a home World Cup next year. It is a tournament his mother’s home nation are struggling to qualify for, and despite naturalising... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3306397/san-joses-beau-leroux-eyes-us-world-cup-spot-has-thought-about-playing-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3306397/san-joses-beau-leroux-eyes-us-world-cup-spot-has-thought-about-playing-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:30:08 +0000 The Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre has become a “sea of red” in preparation for China’s crucial World Cup qualifying match against Australia on Tuesday. More than 67,000 spectators are expected to pile into the stadium and seats in the home end have been adorned with red t-shirts printed with “Let’s go, China” as the country pulls out all the stops to give their side a fighting chance at making only their second appearance at football’s biggest tournament. Before the game kicks off at 7pm, there... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3303790/hangzhou-becomes-sea-red-china-fans-brace-decisive-world-cup-qualifier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3303790/hangzhou-becomes-sea-red-china-fans-brace-decisive-world-cup-qualifier?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Mar 2025 08:11:57 +0000 China’s artificial intelligence chatbot DeepSeek has predicted the country’s national team will fail to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, ahead of their crucial qualifying match against Saudi Arabia. The men’s national team were bottom of Group C on goal difference before Thursday’s match, but level on points with fourth-placed Saudi Arabia and Indonesia in third spot. The top two teams, currently Japan and Australia, automatically qualify for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3303176/china-will-fail-qualify-2026-fifa-world-cup-deepseek-predicts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3303176/china-will-fail-qualify-2026-fifa-world-cup-deepseek-predicts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Mar 2025 14:00:07 +0000 Guo Jiaxuan, the Chinese footballer left fighting for his life following a collision during a match in Madrid last month, has died in Beijing hours before his 19th birthday, his brother has revealed. The teenager had been on life support in hospital in the Chinese capital since his family asked to bring him home from Spain, where he had been attending a training camp. He was left brain-dead after suffering a subarachnoid haemorrhage – a form of stroke caused by bleeding on the surface of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3303207/brain-dead-chinese-teen-footballer-dies-hours-19th-birthday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3303207/brain-dead-chinese-teen-footballer-dies-hours-19th-birthday?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:45:42 +0000 Football officials in Beijing are “delaying” the release of vital information about the incident that has left a young Chinese player fighting for his life following an accident in Spain, a source in the capital has said. Guo Jiaxuan, 18, who plays for the under-20 team of Chinese Super League (CSL) club Beijing Guoan, last week suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage that left him brain-dead and on life support, after colliding with another player during a training match against RC Alcobendas in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3298841/chinese-footballer-brain-dead-after-accident-flown-home-family-search-answers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3298841/chinese-footballer-brain-dead-after-accident-flown-home-family-search-answers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:55:21 +0000 The family of a promising Chinese footballer who suffered severe brain injuries in an accident during a training camp in Spain have accused his club and Beijing’s governing body of failing to cover the teenager’s medical bills. Guo Jiaxuan, 18, who plays for the academy of Chinese Super League (CSL) team Beijing Guoan, suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage after colliding with another player during a training match against RC Alcobendas in Madrid, Guo’s brother said on Tuesday. A subarachnoid... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3298350/chinese-footballer-18-brain-dead-after-accident-spain-family-accuse-club-and-fa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3298350/chinese-footballer-18-brain-dead-after-accident-spain-family-accuse-club-and-fa?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Feb 2025 07:15:51 +0000 Chinese football bosses have been labelled a joke after Fifa refused to give worldwide recognition to the “global” life ban they slapped on South Korean footballer Son Jun-ho for his alleged role in a match-fixing scandal. The decision not to enforce the ban outside China, leaving the 32-year-old free to restart his career, has been met with derision on mainland Chinese social media platforms. Son was held for 10 months when attempting to leave the country in May 2023, with Beijing claiming his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3296553/fifa-sides-south-korea-says-players-global-life-ban-only-applies-inside-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3296553/fifa-sides-south-korea-says-players-global-life-ban-only-applies-inside-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jan 2025 05:05:57 +0000 Guangdong head coach Zhou Suian has tried to build bridges after two of his players baited Hong Kong supporters during Wednesday’s heated Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup second-leg clash. Home fans threw drinks in paper cups and other objects at Guangdong’s opening goalscorer Behram Abduweli at Hong Kong Stadium, after he cavorted in front of them following his 32nd-minute strike. Kyle Lau Ka-kiu equalised for Hong Kong, but with the tie poised at 2-2 on aggregate, following last week’s 1-1 first leg,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3296010/mainland-chinese-coach-player-rue-disrespect-shown-hong-kong-fiery-football-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3296010/mainland-chinese-coach-player-rue-disrespect-shown-hong-kong-fiery-football-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Jan 2025 11:30:25 +0000 Hong Kong’s bid to win back the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup was wrecked by a late strike from Xia Dalong, as the mainland visitors won a chaotic and bad-tempered clash 2-1 on Wednesday night. The hosts appeared to have all the momentum after Kyle Lau Ka-kiu struck shortly after half-time, following a first-half opener from Behram Abduweli – later sent off after receiving a second yellow card deep into stoppage time. But Guangdong clinched a 3-2 aggregate victory, following last week’s 1-1 first leg,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3295860/guangdong-hong-kong-cup-citys-battling-recovery-vain-mainlanders-triumph?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3295860/guangdong-hong-kong-cup-citys-battling-recovery-vain-mainlanders-triumph?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jan 2025 14:24:35 +0000 The Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup first leg ended 1-1 on Wednesday night after the mainland Chinese hosts profited from a soft penalty to equalise in Guangzhou. Despite conceding that luckless 74th-minute leveller, the away side – who led through Stefan Pereira’s first goal for the city – ended the night in the box seat ahead of their home leg at Hong Kong Stadium next Wednesday. Veteran forward Pereira’s Hong Kong future appeared to be in the balance when he was axed from the squad for September’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3294924/guangdong-hong-kong-cup-mainlanders-saved-soft-penalty-guangzhou-leg?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3294924/guangdong-hong-kong-cup-mainlanders-saved-soft-penalty-guangzhou-leg?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jan 2025 14:40:03 +0000 The jailing of former star footballer and ex-men’s national team coach, Li Tie, for 20 years is a landmark in mainland China’s sweeping crackdown on corruption in the sport. Li, who played in the World Cup finals in 2002 and then for English Premier League team Everton, was convicted of taking more than 110 million yuan (HK$117 million) in bribes between 2015 and 2021. He is the best known figure among the many officials, coaches and players who have been punished as part of an investigation... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3292678/clean-start-needed-china-football-score?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3292678/clean-start-needed-china-football-score?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Dec 2024 22:30:09 +0000 Achieving success on the football pitch would earn China more global recognition and “soft power” than the country has gained through its dominance of various Olympic sports. That was the view of a leading academic, after a China State Council meeting set the objective of awakening the nation’s slumbering football and dragging it into a “new phase”. The country’s renewed football ambition coincides with the jailing of former national team boss Li Tie, who received a 20-year sentence for bribery... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3291942/football-glory-will-earn-china-more-global-respect-olympic-golds-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3291942/football-glory-will-earn-china-more-global-respect-olympic-golds-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:30:09 +0000 At a key meeting on Monday of the State Council, China’s cabinet, officials were urged to “revitalise and develop” the country’s football industry and bring it into a “new phase”. It was an unexpected agenda item at a meeting, chaired by Premier Li Qiang, that was largely focused on implementing decisions from the Communist Party’s central economic work conference. This renewed focus on the game – one of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s favourite sports – comes as a sweeping anti-corruption... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3291824/why-chinas-goal-football-greatness-still-long-shot-despite-renewed-focus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3291824/why-chinas-goal-football-greatness-still-long-shot-despite-renewed-focus?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Dec 2024 10:00:13 +0000 China’s recent crackdown on corruption in football is not the end because the sport in the country is rotten to the core, observers have declared. On Friday, Li Tie, a former coach of the men’s national team, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for bribery just days after three former Chinese Football Association (CFA) officials were also imprisoned. Li’s sentencing was the pinnacle of a crackdown that started earlier this year and which had also seen players, coaches and officials banned from the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3291333/chinese-football-corrupt-all-way-through-and-recent-crackdown-not-end-observers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3291333/chinese-football-corrupt-all-way-through-and-recent-crackdown-not-end-observers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Dec 2024 09:30:09 +0000 China jailed two more former top football officials for bribery on Wednesday, court statements showed, following a sweeping crackdown on corruption in the domestic game. Liu Yi, who was secretary general of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), was handed an 11-year sentence and fined 3.6 million yuan (US$497,000) for taking bribes, a court in central Hubei province said. A separate court in the same province said Tan Hai, former head of the CFA’s referees management office, was given... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3290273/china-jails-two-more-former-top-football-officials-bribery-amid-corruption-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3290273/china-jails-two-more-former-top-football-officials-bribery-amid-corruption-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Dec 2024 05:21:24 +0000 Congolese striker Oscar Maritu is undergoing a process to switch his national allegiance to China, according to widespread reports in the mainland media. The 25-year-old is also expected to join former Hong Kong boss Jorn Andersen’s maiden Chinese Super League venture at Yunnan Yukun next season after they stormed to promotion from China League One. Maritu qualified for naturalisation after playing in China for more than five years. He moved to the mainland to join second-tier side Shaanxi... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3288465/forward-oscar-maritu-undergoing-china-naturalisation-process-amid-injury-crisis-attack?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3288465/forward-oscar-maritu-undergoing-china-naturalisation-process-amid-injury-crisis-attack?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Nov 2024 06:00:16 +0000 The global life ban China wanted to slap on a South Korean footballer it accused of match-fixing has been rejected by Fifa, and a club official said there was “insufficient evidence” to support the punishment. Son Jun-ho, who was detained in China for 10 months “on suspicion of accepting bribes”, was one of 43 people banned from football for life by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) in September as part of a corruption crackdown. However, Choi Soon-ho, director of football at the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3288361/life-ban-cfa-imposed-south-koreas-son-rejected-fifa-club-boss-calls-china-unstable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3288361/life-ban-cfa-imposed-south-koreas-son-rejected-fifa-club-boss-calls-china-unstable?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Nov 2024 10:30:07 +0000