24 Hours After Punishment Announcement: Mixed Reactions from 13 Clubs — 6 Admit Fault, 6 Remain Silent, 1 Protests Then Deletes Post

On January 29, a key meeting related to China’s “anti-match-fixing and illegal gambling” campaign was held in Beijing. Shortly afterward, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) officially announced disciplinary measures against 13 professional league clubs. More than 24 hours later, the reactions from the punished teams have varied significantly.

Among the 13 sanctioned clubs, nine currently compete in the Chinese Super League, while the remaining four are China League One sides: Changchun Yatai, Ningbo, Meizhou Hakka, and Suzhou Dongwu. Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger received the harshest penalties, each being deducted 10 league points and fined 1 million yuan.

Following the announcement, six clubs—Shanghai Shenhua, Shanghai Port, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, Changchun Yatai, Ningbo, and Suzhou Dongwu—issued official statements acknowledging past issues and offering apologies to fans and stakeholders. Shanghai Shenhua was the first to respond, stating that the club “respects and accepts the disciplinary decision and extends its sincerest apologies to supporters and partners.”

In contrast, Qingdao Hainiu, Shandong Taishan, Henan FC, Zhejiang FC, Wuhan Three Towns, and Meizhou Hakka have yet to release any public response. Many fans interpret this collective silence as a form of implicit protest.

Beijing Guoan, however, took a more direct approach. On the afternoon following the announcement, the club posted a statement on its official platform reading: “People may deceive, but heaven watches; justice exists above our heads.” The post quickly drew massive attention and topped trending lists, only to be deleted roughly an hour later.

After removing the post, Guoan did not issue a follow-up public statement. Instead, club executives held a closed-door meeting with fan representatives to explain the situation. According to attendees, the club firmly maintained its position, repeatedly stating that it “did nothing wrong.”