Chinese Professional Football League

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Chinese Professional Football League

中国足球职业联赛联合会
Abbreviation	CFL (中足联)
Formation	23 January 2025
Chairman	Li Kemin
Website	csl-china.com

The Chinese Professional Football League^[a] (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 football leagues, overseeing the Chinese Super League (CSL), China League One, and China League Two.^[3] Established in 2025, it replaced the Chinese Football Association (CFA)'s direct management of leagues to improve governance and financial sustainability.^[4]

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.

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