Joint disciplinary action nationwide ban! Professional leagues & social football match conduct linkage

Report by Chen Yong Recently, the "List of Individuals Subject to Severe Violation Disciplinary Actions in Social Football Events" on the Chinese Football Association website was updated. Player Ri Huowati, originally banned for 5 years by the Sichuan Provincial Football Association, now faces an extended ban nationwide. His violation involved violent conduct against a referee, with the ban period from November 15, 2025 to November 14, 2030.

With the comprehensive development of social football events, primarily urban leagues, match conduct remains a top priority. Currently, match conduct management in domestic events implements linkage measures: joint disciplinary action and nationwide bans have become key strategies, which all professional and amateur football clubs, coaches, players, and staff must高度重视.

On November 15, 2025, after the Sichuan Provincial Urban Football League match between Liangshan Team and Leshan Team, Ri Huowati, dissatisfied with the decision and already ordered off the field, rushed from the stadium perimeter, kicked the referee in the abdomen, and punched his head, causing noticeable bruising and swelling on the referee's head and multiple contusions on the left abdomen. On January 5, 2016, the Sichuan Provincial Football Association issued the "Decision on Penalties for Violations by Liangshan赛区, Liangshan Good Doctor Team, and Player Ri Huowati," banning Ri Huowati from football events organized by Sichuan provincial sports departments and the football association for 5 years. Simultaneously, local公安机关依法对 Ri Huowati implemented administrative penalties.

After the 5-year ban imposed by Sichuan Province, other provinces and cities attempted to recruit Ri Huowati. This practice was exposed and drew high attention from the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Football Association.

Ri Huowati was included in the "List of Individuals Subject to Severe Violation Disciplinary Actions in Social Football Events" in late March, meaning he paid a extremely severe price for his actions: he is barred from participating in any official football events, whether professional leagues or social football events, whether organized by the Chinese Football Association or local football associations.

In early 2026, the Chinese Football Association introduced the "List of Individuals Subject to Severe Violation Disciplinary Actions in Social Football Events," aiming to comprehensively oversee match conduct in social football events and fully supervise severe violations. In this list, the Chinese Football Association and local football associations will implement joint disciplinary actions; local bans will be escalated to nationwide bans to deter severe违规违纪现象 in football matches and整顿赛风赛纪.

The current "List of Individuals Subject to Severe Violation Disciplinary Actions in Social Football Events" includes 60 individuals: 36 face lifetime bans, 33 are players, and 3 are officials, coaches, and team doctors. Violations include严重违背公平竞赛精神, assaulting match officials, chasing and assaulting/verbally abusing referees, attacking opposing players, etc. The remaining 24 team leaders, coaches, and players received nationwide bans from 6 months to 5 years. Besides Ri Huowati, Wang Yaowen from the Chongqing Urban Football Super League also received a 5-year ban for violent conduct against a referee. All these bans apply nationwide.

Conversely, players banned from professional leagues cannot participate in urban leagues or other official social football events. Normal suspensions due to red/yellow cards and常规追加停赛 are not covered, though additional suspensions in related events also have corresponding linkage strategies.

Currently, adult football events in China comprise four major competition systems: first, the three-tier professional leagues and the semi-professional China Champions League; second, local club events connected to professional leagues; these two form China's football club pyramid system with at least six tiers. Third, relatively independent club events organized by local football associations; fourth, urban leagues at various levels emerging since last year, including provincial/municipal and city-level urban leagues. Simply summarized, they can be categorized as: professional club events, amateur club events, and administrative region events.

The national level高度重视 urban leagues but maintains a尽量不干预 attitude towards their organization models to allow free growth, e.g., some local urban leagues this year began showing signs of "money football" (i.e., local high investment, not referring to sponsorship aspects), and the national level only closely monitors and provides necessary warnings. However, this attitude does not extend to match conduct; whether in professional or social football events, match conduct is subject to a zero-tolerance policy, now elevated to joint disciplinary action. All efforts aim to ensure肃清赛风赛纪,彻底浇灭 players'侥幸心理 of "fighting and moving elsewhere," undoubtedly creating strong deterrence and必然 promoting healthy development of professional leagues and social football events.