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The Chinese Professional Football League (Chinese: 中国足球职业联赛联合会; pinyin: Zhōngguó Zúqiú Zhíyè Liánsài Liánhéhuì), abbreviated as CFL (Chinese: 中足联; pinyin: Zhōngzúlián), is an independent federation aimed at operating all levels of China's professional footballleagues, overseeing the Chinese Super League (CSL), China League One, and China League Two. Established in 2025, it replaced the Chinese Football Association (CFA)'s direct management of leagues to improve governance and financial sustainability.
The CFL was created under China's 2015 football reform plan to decentralize league operations. It manages commercial rights, scheduling, and promotion/relegation, while the CFA retains regulatory powers. The league aims to curb corruption and overspending.
History
2015: The State Council's "Football Reform Plan" proposes separating league management from the CFA.
2022–2024: Anti-corruption crackdown arrests 13 CFA officials, including former chairman Chen Xuyuan.
2025: CFL officially launches with 56 clubs across three tiers. The inaugural council includes representatives from clubs, media, and legal experts.
中国足球职业联赛联合会 literally means "Chinese Professional Football League Union" instead of "Chinese Professional Football League". In fact, "Chinese Professional Football League" is the translation of 中国足球职业联盟 (or 中国职业足球联盟), the name proposed during the organization's preparation phase.
Football in China