Kevin Muscat has managed Shanghai Port to two successive Chinese title triumphs but the Australian will face a huge hurdle if he goes for the 'three-peat' after the champions were hit with a points deduction following an investigation into football corruption.
Shanghai, who won the Chinese Super League by just two points, must begin their defence of the title in March on minus-five points after they were among nine top-flight clubs who were hit with substantial punishments announced by the Chinese FA on Thursday.
Shanghai Shenhua, who were runners-up to their neighbours, got an even tougher sanction of a 10-point deduction, along with Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, who came sixth.
