In this Nov 8, 2020 photo, Eder Martins, right, of Jiangsu Suning vies with Zhang Linpeng, left, and Jiang Guangtai of Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao during the 19th round match at 2020 season CSL Suzhou Division in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu province. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Chinese Football Association (CFA) chief Chen Xuyuan said Friday that the country's professional football will collapse without the introduction of a salary cap.

The strictest ever expenditure and salary cap will be implemented across all levels of China's professional leagues in the coming season.

"In order to avoid complete failure, we have to take measures to curb the investment bubbles in the leagues and promote the healthy and sustainable development of professional football," Chen noted in a live streaming interview.

"CSL club expenditure is about three times higher than Japan's J-league. But our national team is lagging far behind. The bubbles not only affect the present of Chinese football, but also its future," Chen further explained, noting that the CFA has a series of tough measures in place to punish violations.

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According to CFA regulations, a club whose total spending exceeds the permitted limit will be deducted between six and 24 points. Additionally, any player whose salary exceeds the cap will not be able to participate in any CFA-sanctioned matches.

"If any concealment or contract forgery is found by the CFA, the related club will be relegated and the players involved will face a ban," Chen said.

"Even with the cap, CSL salaries are still at a high level in Asia and can attract high-level overseas players. I have confidence in that," he added.