Shenhua fans rocked by CFA penalties

Supporters of Shanghai Shenhua were stunned as the club's 2003 Chinese first division title was stripped, while the club's former ownership has yet to provide a response to the penalties meted out by the Chinese Football Association for a massive match-fixing scandal a decade ago.

After a three-year probe, the CFA penalized the Shanghai club on Monday with sanctions including a 1 million yuan ($158,000) fine, the stripping of its 2003 title and a six-point deduction from next season's Chinese Super League campaign. A number of other clubs and dozens of individuals were also punished.

Shenhua spokesman Ma Yue said the penalties had been reported to the club's former shareholders, five State-owned enterprises.