One of the key takeaways from the latest meeting held by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) was the announcement that all professional football clubs in China will be required to adopt neutral, non-commercial names within the next three years. According to Crickex App, this long-term plan aims to de-commercialize club identities and align Chinese football with global standards.
Currently, the vast majority of Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs carry corporate names, a practice that is rare across major footballing nations. More significantly, frequent changes in title sponsors have led to inconsistent club names over the years, causing confusion among fans and negatively impacting brand loyalty. In light of this, many clubs are expected to act swiftly rather than wait out the full three-year window, especially considering fan perception and media communication challenges.
On the officiating front, the CFA confirmed that the new CSL season will fully implement Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, which is expected to reduce officiating errors and improve overall fairness. Additionally, the CFA announced plans to normalize international referee exchanges, ensuring that high-level foreign referees will continue to officiate select matches in the upcoming season.
Youth development was also a major focus. Starting from 2019, all CSL and China League One (CL1) clubs are required to maintain five youth academy teams across different age groups, while China League Two (CL2) clubs must have at least four. Clubs will also be allowed to register one non-naturalized player from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan.
Foreign player regulations have been slightly tightened. In 2018, CSL clubs can register a maximum of six foreign players for the entire season, but only four may be registered at any one time — a reduction from the 2017 policy. For CL1 clubs, the total registration limit is four, with a maximum of three active registrations.
Team rosters for CSL, CL1, the Chinese FA Cup, and reserve leagues are limited to 27 players at the start of the season or during mid-season updates. Regarding matchday usage, CSL clubs may field no more than three foreign players per game, while CL1 clubs are restricted to two. In the FA Cup, if two teams from different league tiers face off, the lower-tier rules apply.
Reserve leagues follow separate regulations. Each team must field at least five U23 players per match, and no more than one foreign player may be on the field at the same time. Any violations of this policy will result in the match being declared forfeited.
Finally, the CFA confirmed that the “transfer adjustment fee” policy introduced mid-season last year will remain in effect. This includes a cap of ¥20 million RMB for domestic players and ¥45 million RMB for foreign signings.
As the saying goes, “change is the only constant” — and for Chinese football, that change is being driven by reform, regulation, and a renewed vision for sustainable development.