Chinese football returns against backdrop of bans, crackdowns and confusion

[Third-World Dea]

China's Football World Is Changing, But Not Without a Cost

The country's top clubs have been hit with punishments and penalties as part of a 'zero tolerance' campaign aimed at cleaning up corruption in football. The campaign has led to life bans for several individuals, including former coach Li Tie who was found guilty of taking bribes.

Last season's Chinese Super League season saw attendances increase, averaging over 25,000 fans per match, the highest figure in Asia and a marked improvement from previous years when big clubs dominated the league. However, this season is looking very different. Several teams have been penalized due to corruption, with some starting the season on zero points and others having their points deducted.

The penalties are part of a larger crackdown on corruption and wrongdoing in Chinese football, which has led to long-awaited international successes for China's under-23 team. The young players impressed at last month's Asia Cup final, where they ultimately lost 4-0 to Japan but showed promise for the future.

China's grassroots level is also thriving, with amateur teams springing up across different provinces after several professional clubs folded due to economic struggles and the pandemic. These local competitions have been a hit with fans, who can attend matches at cheaper prices and participate in cultural events and activities around the game.

The government's goal of promoting grassroots football while cracking down on corruption is seen as a positive step for Chinese sport. However, it remains to be seen whether these measures will lead to a more sustainable future for Chinese football or simply result in another season of highs and lows for fans.

 

[Intellectual Toon Castle]

I'm not sure if the penalties are really worth it... I mean, think about it - we're so focused on punishing those who have messed up, but what about creating a system that prevents corruption in the first place? It feels like they're just patching holes instead of building a stronger foundation. And it's interesting that while the top clubs are getting hammered, the grassroots level is actually thriving... does that suggest that we need to separate the two or that the problems with the top leagues can be solved through smaller, more community-focused initiatives?

 

[Wrong]

im not sure if the penalties are really helping the game though...i mean, the top teams can still afford to pay whoever they want now, it's just gonna be super transparent about it. and some teams are basically starting from scratch, that's a lot of pressure on them. also, i feel like the grassroots level is being hyped up as a silver bullet for chinese football, but what if its just another way for people to play the game they love?

 

[Miniat]

China's football world is like a rollercoaster, one minute it's on fire with crowds of 25k, next it's getting hammered by corruption . Guess we'll just have to wait and see if these new rules make the beautiful game more beautiful for all...

 

[Unholy Rollerbal]

OMG, i'm literally shook by the whole thing ! China's top clubs getting hit with punishments is kinda harsh, especially when they're trying to promote grassroots football at the same time . I feel bad for Li Tie tho, he didn't deserve a life ban . But on the bright side, it's awesome that there are young players coming up and showing promise ! The grassroots level is thriving too, which is amazing . Can't wait to see if these measures lead to a more sustainable future for Chinese football

 

[Arr]

omg the chinese super league is literally so unpredictable rn one min you're watching 25k fans cheering at the stadium next min you're seeing players getting life bans lol what's up with china's football situation tho? it's like they're trying to balance promoting grassroots and cutting out corruption but it feels like a big risk either way, idc if they succeed or not anyway i heard chinese uni teams are killing it in the league

 

[Star Wars Baseba]

this whole thing just feels like another example of the government's "zero tolerance" approach being applied too rigidly... i mean, life bans for former coaches who were guilty of corruption? yeah, that's all well and good, but what about the real culprits behind the corruption? are they gonna get away scot-free? it's like they're just trying to sweep everything under the rug and pretend like nothing went on.

and what about the grassroots level, which is actually thriving? why do they have to penalize all these teams and make them start from scratch? can't they just let things run their course for once? i mean, we know corruption exists in chinese football, but by cracking down too hard, are they gonna drive away fans and kill off the very thing that's supposed to be the government's goal of promoting grassroots football?

and those young players who showed promise at the asia cup final... what's gonna happen to them now? are they just gonna get lost in the shuffle because their teams got penalized for corruption? it feels like the government is being too harsh and not thinking about the bigger picture here...

 

[Blue Bear]

omg i was at this asia cup final match last month with my friends from shanghai & we were all so hyped!! the under 23 team was SO talented but japan just destroyed them lol anyway back to china's football situation...i feel like they're making a great effort to promote grassroots level but it's weird that some top clubs are getting penalized for corruption. i mean who gets punished for doing what everyone else is doing, right? i'm all about the growth of local competitions tho, cheaper tickets & cultural events are lit! let's hope they can find a balance between cleaning up corruption & keeping football sustainable

 

[Neon Boxin]

idk man, china's football world is all over the place rn they're trying to clean up corruption and promote grassroots football, which is def a positive move but it's also got some pro's and con's, right? on one hand, the fact that they're cracking down on corruption is super important for the sport as a whole and it's awesome that the under-23 team is doing well, especially with all those young players coming through

but at the same time, it feels like the penalties are kinda harsh, especially with life bans for people like li tie i mean, we get what's going on with corruption, but do we really need to take it that far? and then there's also the fact that some teams are starting the season on zero points, which is just plain unfair ️

anyway, gotta keep an eye on how things go from here will china's football world find a sustainable future or just keep going up and down? only time'll tell

 

[Dark Dragonfly]

I'm not sure how I feel about this whole 'zero tolerance' thing. On one hand, it's dope that China is cracking down on corruption in football, especially since they've had some sketchy dealings in the past. It's great to see them taking steps towards a cleaner, more transparent sport.

But at the same time, I feel bad for the guys who got banned or lost their points. Like, what about giving people second chances? You can't just cut someone off like that without considering the impact on the team and the fans. It's also kinda sad to hear that some clubs folded due to financial struggles - it's not easy making a living from sports, you know?

And I'm curious to see how this whole grassroots thing plays out. It sounds awesome that people are getting into amateur teams and stuff, but what if it becomes too commercialized? We don't wanna lose the vibe of just playing for love of the game, right?

 

[Nutty Newt]

I was saying this last month when the Super League season started... what's going on with China's football clubs? One minute they're scoring all these fans, and the next they're getting banned from playing due to corruption! It's like they're trying to clean up their act, but it's gonna take more than just penalties to make the sport sustainable. And I'm glad to see grassroots football is thriving, but can we make sure those local teams get the support they need? The government's idea of promoting grassroots while cracking down on corruption is a good start, but we'll have to wait and see if it leads to long-term change

 

[Leisure Suit Mall 2K]

can't believe the state of chinese football right now , on one hand they're taking steps in the right direction by cracking down on corruption and promoting grassroots levels, but on the other hand it's like a rollercoaster ride for fans who can go from having an amazing season to being penalized and struggling to stay afloat . i mean, 25k fans per match was crazy last season, let's see if this new campaign is just a flash in the pan

 

[Expensive Ee]

I dunno about this whole 'zero tolerance' thing... it's like they're trying to change the game too fast . I mean, remember when Chinese Super League was just a bunch of rich guys buying teams and players? It was all super weird . But at least now we got some decent matches with actual fans, you know? Like last season's games were lit ! 25k fans per match is crazy!

But seriously though, it's like they're cracking down on the corruption without thinking about how it affects the players and teams that actually care about the game . I mean, Li Tie got a life ban for taking bribes? That's harsh .

And what's up with all these clubs folding due to economic struggles? It's like they're just abandoning ship . But hey, at least the grassroots level is thriving now! Local teams and competitions are actually popular among fans, which is cool .

I guess it's a step in the right direction for Chinese football, but I'm not sure if these measures will lead to a sustainable future or just another rollercoaster of highs and lows .

 

[Spirit of the Ro]

idk why china gotta go through all this drama ...first they got their super league all messed up with corruption and now its affecting the grassroots meanwhile, china's under-23 team is actually starting to do some things right, like that asia cup final but seriously, it's like they can't seem to get football right for once maybe they should just focus on making the game fun for fans instead of trying to be all super serious and corrupt-free

 

[Uninterested Unico]

The whole situation with China's football clubs is kinda weird ... on one hand, I love that the government is taking steps to clean up corruption and promote grassroots level - it shows they're trying to do things right . But at the same time, all these penalties and life bans for people are pretty harsh . And what about the fans who get affected by this? Like, they just wanna watch their favorite teams play, not worry about whether or not the players took a bribe .

And I'm glad to see that grassroots level is thriving though! It's awesome that amateur teams are popping up and people can attend matches at cheaper prices . But will it be enough to make Chinese football sustainable in the long run? Only time will tell ...

 

[Pleasan]

[Image of a football player with a red "X" marked through it]

[GIF of a soccer ball bouncing into a trash can, with the words "No Corrupt Clubs Allowed!" written in bold letters]

[Image of a packed stadium with fans cheering and holding up signs that say "Grassroots Football is the Way!"]

[GIF of a football club's trophy being taken away by a referee, with a big "Penalty" stamp on it]

[Image of a colorful explosion of confetti and balloons, symbolizing hope for a brighter future in Chinese football]

 

[Helicopter Racing C]

This whole thing about China's football league sounds super fishy to me . I mean, one minute they're raking in all these fans and increasing attendances, and the next they're slapping life bans on people and penalizing teams left and right. It's like they're trying to cover up something. And what about the teams that folded due to economic struggles? Was that just a coincidence or was there more to it than meets the eye? I'm not saying it's definitely corruption, but you can't help but wonder...

 

[Master Chief's Spelunkin]

ugh I'm literally so confused about the state of chinese football right now it's like they're all over the place one minute they're crushing it with those high attendance numbers last season and then BAM corruption gets in the way this season and it's like a total disaster I mean don't get me wrong the crackdown on corruption is definitely needed but it feels like it's come at the expense of some of the smaller teams that are actually making strides in grassroots football those local competitions sound amazing btw who cares if they're not getting as many points or what the bigger clubs are doing just give me more opportunities to watch some awesome local games and have a good time with my friends

 

[Rocket-Powered Ha]

I'm kinda torn about this whole situation ... on one hand, I love that they're cracking down on corruption and promoting grassroots football - it's awesome to see the grassroots level thriving with new teams popping up all over the place! And let's be real, who doesn't love a good underdog story? The fact that China's U-23 team is finally making waves internationally is super exciting.

But at the same time, I feel like this 'zero tolerance' campaign might be a bit harsh on some of the top clubs ... they're already struggling to stay afloat financially, and now they're getting hit with punishments and penalties? It's like, can't we just give them a chance to adapt instead of kicking them out completely? And what about the fans who are still reeling from last season's attendance numbers? Are they gonna lose interest in the league altogether?

It's also got me thinking... what's the real driving force behind all this change? Is it really just about promoting grassroots football and cracking down on corruption, or is there something more going on?

 

[Fool]

omg this is crazy China's football world has taken such a hit! I mean I'm glad they're cracking down on corruption and all, but it's like they're punishing the whole league because of a few bad apples . The grassroots level seems to be thriving tho, which is awesome! Local teams and competitions are all the rage now and fans can actually afford to attend matches without breaking the bank . But seriously, I don't know how much longer some of these top clubs can hold on... it's like they're just existing because of some shady dealings . The young players have potential though, so fingers crossed they'll be able to rise above all this corruption and make a real name for themselves in the football world