China fines club, issues bans over match fixing

Shanghai Shenhua’s Didier Drogba. AP/Eugene Hoshiko, File

BEIJING — Shanghai Shenhau, briefly home to former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba, has been stripped of its 2003 league title and fined $160,000 as part of a new round of sanctions aimed at rooting out match fixing in the Chinese Super League.

State media reported Tuesday that the Chinese Football Association also banned 33 officials and players for life at the conclusion of a three-year investigation into corruption in the Chinese Super League. Among those banned were former association chiefs NanYong and Xie Yalong, who were sentenced last year to 10 ½ years in prison each.

Shenhua was also docked six points for the coming season as part of its punishment for fixing the result of a game on its way to the 2003 title.

China blames rampant corruption in part for its poor international results.