The 2009 Chinese Super League season was the sixth season since the establishment of the Chinese Super League, the sixteenth season of a professionalfootball league and the 48th top-tier league season in China. Beijing Guoan won their first ever Chinese Super League title.
Each team is allowed to register a maximum of five foreign players and field four of them in starting line-up this season, one of whom must be from an AFC country.[2]
The league title sponsor is Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli. A three-year deal was announced on March 20, 2009.[3]Nike have renewed sponsorship deal with Super League before season starts. CCTV, SMG and Sina became league partners and will broadcast live matches on TV and online across the country.
Source: 2009 league table on the official site of the Chinese Super League Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head points; 3rd head-to-head goal difference; 4th head-to-head goals scored; 5th goal difference; 6th goals scored; 7th disciplinary points (1 point for each yellow card, 3 points for each red card). Head-to-Head: used when head-to-head record is used to rank tied teams. (C) Champions; (R) Relegated Notes:
^Guangzhou: 10 pts, 12–10; Jiangsu: 8 pts, 6–7; Shenzhen: 8 pts, 8–10; Shaanxi: 6 pts, 9–8. Both clubs were relegated after being found guilty of match-fixing on February 23, 2010.[12]
^Guangzhou: 10 pts, 12–10; Jiangsu: 8 pts, 6–7; Shenzhen: 8 pts, 8–10; Shaanxi: 6 pts, 9–8. Shenzhen were docked 3 points for wearing the wrong kits for a home match against Shanghai and causing a one-hour delay of the match on 30 Aug 2009.[13]