Contracts frozen as players pay price for Team China's failings

The Chinese Football Association has imposed an immediate freeze on the contracts of domestic players as the governing body prepares to implement a raft of new salary-cap and transfer regulations in the offseason.

On Wednesday, a statement on the CFA's website demanded all clubs delay the signing of new contracts for domestic players in the Chinese game's top three tiers.

With public opinion incensed by the national team's continuing travails in World Cup qualifying, the CFA said the move was in the interests of all professional clubs and the healthy development of Chinese soccer.