The 2019 Ping An Chinese Football Association Super League (Chinese: 2019中国平安中国足球协会超级联赛) was the 16th season since the establishment of the Chinese Super League.[1] The league title sponsor was Ping An Insurance.[2][3] The season began on 1 March and ended on 1 December.[4]Shanghai SIPG were the defending champions.[5]
The policy regarding foreign players and U-23 domestic players was modified for this season. The same as the previous two seasons, at least one domestic player who is under the age of 23 (born on or after 1 January 1996) must be in the starting eleven. However, the total number of foreign players appearing in a match is no longer related to the total number of U-23 domestic players. A club can register four foreign players at most in the same time and use three foreign players at most in a match. On the other hand, at least three U-23 domestic players must be used in a match. In addition, if there are U-23 players who have been called up by the national teams at all levels, the number of U-23 domestic players fielded will be reduced accordingly.[6] The policy was modified again during the season. From Round 16 and beyond, maximum of three foreign players can be used at the same time in one match and there must be at least one U-23 domestic player playing in one match. In addition, if there are U-23 players who have been called up by the national teams at all levels, the team is not required to field any U-23 players.[7]
Wuhan Zall and Shenzhen return to the division after a 5-year absence and a 7-year absence respectively. Changchun Yatai were relegated after a 13-year spell in the Chinese top-flight, while Guizhou Hengfeng were relegated to China League One after spending 2 seasons in the Chinese Super League.
The policy of foreign players remained unchanged. Clubs can register a total of six foreign players over the course of the season, but the number of foreign players allowed on each CSL team at any given time is limited to four. A maximum of three foreign players can be fielded in each match. In addition, each club can register a Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan player of Chinese descent (excluding goalkeepers), provided that he registered as a professional footballer in one of those three association for the first time, as a native player.
Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
Players named in ITALICS have left the club, or are off the roster due to being injured or sent to the reserves.
^1 For Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwanese players, if they are non-naturalized and were registered as professional footballers in Hong Kong's, Macau's, or Chinese Taipei's football association for the first time, they are recognized as native players. Otherwise they are recognized as foreign players.
During season: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
After season: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Scores of the weight ratio of the reserve league and youth leagues.[36] (C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (R) Relegated Notes:
Source: CSL Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
Positions by round
To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.