Chinese Super League tightens salary and spending rules, warning clubs not to ‘test our determination’
- New policy aims to curb investment bubbles and applies to all – ‘no matter how big the club is or how famous the player is’
- Clubs face relegation and players a two-year ban if they forge contracts to get around wage limits
The Chinese Football Association has introduced its strictest financial measures yet with a new salary cap for domestic and foreign players throughout the professional game.
In the Chinese Super League, foreign player salaries are capped at €3 million (US$3.63 million) and domestic players at 5 million yuan (US$765,000) per year before tax, with salaries in China League One and Two a fraction of that.
“The policy aims to curb the investment bubbles in our leagues and promote the healthy and sustainable development of professional football,” the CFA said.
Further financial constraints were announced to limit the overall spending of clubs.
CSL clubs can spend no more than 600 million yuan (US$91.74 million) per year in total, with a €10 million (US$12.1 million) limit on foreign player salaries. For domestic players, clubs are expected to average an annual salary of no more than 3 million yuan (US$458,700) per player.