1999 Chinese football match-fixing scandal

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The 1999 Jia-A League final round featured a controversial match between Chongqing Longxin and Shenyang Haishi on December 15, 1999. Shenyang won 2–1 amid accusations from Chongqing fans of match-fixing. In 2000 the Chinese Football Association fined both clubs for passive play after finding no evidence of bribery. A CCTV-5 documentary suggested that referee Lu Jun played a key role in steering the outcome.

Going into the last round, two teams would be relegated. Wuhan Hongtao K had already secured safety, while five clubs were in danger: Shenzhen Pingan and Dalian Wanda on 28 points; Qingdao Hainiu and Guangzhou Songri on 27; Shenyang Haishi on 25. The relegation tiebreaker depended on head-to-head results, and all games were scheduled to start at the same time to reduce fixing opportunities.

In the Chongqing–Shenyang match, Chongqing took the lead in the first half through Mark Williams, but Chongqing played defensively in the second half. Shenyang equalized in the 71st minute and then scored a late winner after the other games had finished. Reports said Guangdong Songsi lost to Tianjin Taida as part of arranged outcomes, affecting who would be relegated.

The CFA questioned coaches and staff from both clubs but found no bribery evidence; they fined them for passive play and later allowed point deductions for such conduct. Zhang Jianqiang, head of the CFA’s referee committee and reportedly bribed by Shenyang’s president, had appointed Lu Jun as fourth official and helped arrange delays and outcomes. Lu Jun was accused of allowing delays and helping set up a plan for Guangzhou Songsi to lose. Zhang and Lu were later convicted by a local court and banned from football for life, with the bans recognized by the CFA and FIFA.