On the day the transfer window opened, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) officially announced the licensing list for the domestic three-tier leagues. In fact, the licensing work began as early as November but was repeatedly delayed until the second week of January 2025 before it could be announced. This licensing list covers 49 teams, which means that among the 52 teams in the three-tier leagues, three teams are not on the list: Cangzhou Mighty Lions from the Chinese Super League (CSL), Guangzhou FC from the China League One (CLO), and Hunan Xiangtao from the China League Two (CLT).
This result is both surprising and expected. After the CFA published the debt-clearing list, more than 10 players immediately reported the three clubs: Cangzhou Mighty Lions, Guangzhou FC, and Hunan Xiangtao. Although Cangzhou Mighty Lions and other teams later made a full effort to remedy the situation, and the Mighty Lions even received 60 million yuan to partially repay their debts, it has been more than one day past the CFA's deadline, and they may have missed the final licensing.
After the CFA announced the list, discussions immediately unfolded in the domestic football circle. The published licensing list did not specify a public comment period and can basically be seen as the final list. At present, the three clubs have not yet responded; whether they will continue to operate or dissolve might become clear in the next few days. The failure of the three clubs to pass the licensing has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it ensures the quality of the league, as teams that often encounter difficulties will no longer have problems; on the other hand, many people will lose their jobs, with players needing to find new teams and staff needing to find new positions.
The players who publicly reported the three clubs have sparked different attitudes among fans. Some fans believe they did the right thing, but many fans whose main teams did not pass the licensing criticized them, as they feel the failure to gain licensing is related to the player reports, although the main reason the clubs did not pass is the unresolved issue of unpaid wages. After the three clubs failed to pass the licensing, the replacement teams have been largely determined, and Meizhou Hakka, which was relegated, should be able to replace them in the CSL for the new season.
This year, the CFA's performance has been somewhat satisfactory, strictly adhering to its own standards in the execution of licensing. When someone raised different opinions about the debt-clearing list, the CFA rigorously conducted a re-examination, ultimately leading to the failure of the three clubs to pass the licensing. It must be said that this result is truly helpless and regrettable, but it is good for the domestic league, as such clubs lacking continuous operational capabilities would only exacerbate problems if they survived another season.