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Chinese Football Association (CFA)

Football fans queued for up to an hour outside a Nike store in Mong Kok, where 1,000 shirts were expected to be sold. Photo: Eugene Lee

‘Most beautiful’: hundreds brave rain to buy popular Hong Kong football jersey

City team’s recent ‘purple patch’ of good form and a design considered the best have seen the jersey acquire a cult status among diehard fans.

19 Nov 2024 - 11:34PM

China fans pray for minor loss at worst in World Cup 2026 qualifier against Japan

19 Nov 2024 - 4:00PM

China’s fragile 2026 World Cup hopes face ultimate test in Japan rematch

17 Nov 2024 - 10:00PM

South Korean FA head sparks firestorm with comments on state of Chinese football

Korea Football Association president Chung Mong-gyu says illegal gambling is among the reasons, but netizens question his right to comment.

25 Oct 2024 - 2:28PMvideocam

Korea Football Association president Chung Mong-gyu was asked in the National Assembly for his view on why football was weak in China. Photo: EPA-EFE

China aiming to revive Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign against Indonesia

Branko Ivankovic’s team must end their losing streak to stand a chance of reaching next round of qualifying.

14 Oct 2024 - 4:58PM

Player lifts lid on match-fixing in Chinese football: ‘there was no escaping it’

Player, who is in his mid-30s, lifts lid on corruption and says clubs in China second tier would deliberately lose on weekly basis.

23 Sep 2024 - 1:53PM

South Korea’s Son agrees to terminate contract with club after China ban

Chinese Football Association has referred the case to Fifa, which is expected to review it for possible disciplinary action.

13 Sep 2024 - 8:30PM

South Korean player Son Jun-ho speaks during a news conference after China’s football association banned him for life. Photo: Reuters

South Korea’s Son denies match-fixing, accuses China police of threats, blackmail

Tearful South Korea footballer says charges he faced were ‘ridiculous’, claims police threatened wife and children.

11 Sep 2024 - 5:00PM

Striker Ewolo proclaims innocence in China match-fixing, says police cleared him

Donovan Ewolo was handed a five-year ban from Chinese football in relation to his time with China League One side Heilongjiang Ice City.

11 Sep 2024 - 2:18PM

China coach Ivankovic won’t quit, boosted by improved performance in Saudi loss

Branko Ivankovic says he saw signs for optimism in 2-1 defeat at home in World Cup qualifier.

11 Sep 2024 - 1:01PM

China’s players sing the national anthem before their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia. Photo: AFP

While you were sleeping: China fans have ‘no hope’, Raygun ranked world No 1

Defeat at home to Saudi Arabia sparks expected backlash on social media, Harry Kane hits 100 milestone, Pochettino is new US boss.

11 Sep 2024 - 7:30AM

China head coach Branko Ivankovic sits on the bench during his side’s World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia. Photo: Xinhua

Kadesh header consigns China to World Cup qualifying defeat against Saudi Arabia

Hassan Kadesh scores twice from corners to seal 2-1 win as China slip to another defeat.

10 Sep 2024 - 10:56PM

South Korea’s Son among 43 handed life ban in China football corruption crackdown

Son Jun-ho and former Chinese internationals Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu and Gu Chao among the 43, while 34 others have been given jail sentences.

10 Sep 2024 - 4:50PMvideocam

Blame it on the rain: China fans set for expected World Cup loss to Saudi Arabia

After a 7-0 defeat to Japan, a hashtag saying Tuesday’s match could be played in the rain has been trending on Weibo, with fans on the defensive.

9 Sep 2024 - 2:56PM

Chinese football fans fear the worst in their Fifa World Cup qualifying clash with Saudi Arabia, following their 7-0 humiliation against Japan. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese football corruption crackdown nets 2 more top officials

Football has taken centre stage as high-profile sports officials are investigated and sentenced over bribery and match-fixing scandals.

19 Aug 2024 - 5:25PMvideocam

Li Yuyi, a former vice-chairman of the Chinese Football Association, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for taking over 12 million yuan in bribes. Photo: CCTV

China’s centralised sports system spurs debate after Paris Olympics

Gold showing by tennis star Zheng Qinwen renews debate over the state’s role in sports that has endured for decades, cranking out medals but quelling marketisation.

13 Aug 2024 - 11:52AMvideocam

Video | What’s wrong with professional football in China?

China’s professional football scene has been mired in scandal and stories of poor performance.

22 Jul 2024 - 11:15AM

Underdogs China will not be bullied by World Cup rivals, vows coach

China face uphill battle to get through next qualifying stage, but head coach Branko Ivankovic says side ‘has quality’ to compete with best.

29 Jun 2024 - 12:00PM

China head coach Branko Ivankovic (right), will lead his side through the next stage of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Photo: Xinhua

Analyst Zhan urges China to use Georgia as role model in Asian ‘Group of Death’

While Chinese fans say the team should ‘know their place’, the veteran football analyst says China should take hope from the Euro 2024 outsiders and devise similar tactics.

28 Jun 2024 - 9:00PM

How China can reach 2026 Fifa World Cup, according to football commentator Zhan

The national team scraped into the next round of Asian qualifying after Singapore did them a favour, but Zhan sees cause for optimism.

17 Jun 2024 - 4:30PM

Chinese club Yunnan Yukun unveil former Hong Kong boss Andersen as head coach

The Norwegian has been in China for a fortnight but will be in the dugout for the first time only on Saturday, when the league leaders travel to face Dalian Yingbo.

13 Jun 2024 - 1:30PM

Yunnan Yukun welcomed Andersen on their official Weibo, and in an official statement lauded the Norwegian’s extensive coaching experience across Europe and Asia. Photo: Handout

China social media lauds Singapore’s Thai heroics, holiday searches to island soar

Thailand’s failure to beat Singapore by three goals allowed China to sneak through to next round of the 2026 qualifiers on head-to-head results despite losing 1-0 to South Korea.

14 Jun 2024 - 9:39AMvideocam

Singapore goalkeeper Hassan Sunny has been praised for his heroic performance against Thailand by Chinese football fans. Photo: EPA

Jorn Andersen watches his new Chinese League One club after quitting Hong Kong

Norwegian is not in dugout but is seen watching from the stands as new club face Shijiazhuang Gongfu.

9 Jun 2024 - 3:03PM

China promise aggressive approach in vital World Cup qualifier against Thailand

Branko Ivankovic’s team, missing four key men, have a three-point lead over Thailand, but will face leaders South Korea in final match, while the Thais will be expected to beat Singapore.

6 Jun 2024 - 4:40PM

China women’s team hire ex-assistant to Tottenham’s Postecoglou as manager

Ante Milicic worked with Ange Postecoglou during stint as Australia men’s manager. He replaces Shui Qingxia who left after failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

13 May 2024 - 3:52PM

Former Australia coach Ante Milicic has been named as the new China women’s boss. Photo: Reuters

Sacked mid-game? Not quite … ex-China manager back in Serie A for 18-minute match

Udinese v Roma was abandoned after Evan Ndicka was hospitalised because of a medical emergency but restart will see change of manager in dugout.

25 Apr 2024 - 1:04PM

Former China boss Fabio Cannavaro was named manager at Serie A side Udinese. Photo: Reuters

China’s men fail to reach Paris Olympics after miserable start to U23 Asian Cup

Defeats at hands of Japan and South Korea leave China bottom of Group B and out of running for Summer Games.

20 Apr 2024 - 4:42PM

EPL matches in Hong Kong? Fifa to consider rule change to overseas games policy

The sport’s world governing body has said it will look into the policy which blocks league games from being staged in foreign territories.

9 Apr 2024 - 1:03PM

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Chinese Football Association (CFA)

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 four former national team players were convicted for taking bribes and sentenced to time in prison in a crackdown against corruption in the sport.

last updated:

9 September, 2024