The country’s third tier team, Changchun Xidu Football Club, were found guilty of placing “feudal superstition items” in their opponents’ dressing room. They were finally caught after putting the talismans in Shanxi Chongde Ronghai’s changing room at a recent home match.

Changchun went on to win the game 2-0 against their eighth-placed opponents.

The use of paper talismans, known as fu in Chinese, is a Taoist practice believed to use spirit energy to bring positive outcomes, but they can also be misused to bring harm or misfortune.

The yellow talismans placed in Shanxi’s dressing room read: “By imperial decree, Shanxi Chongde Ronghai will fail.”

According to local media reports, other clubs in China’s third division had also found paper talismans when playing at Changchun.

The association said in a statement: “The Chinese Football Association will resolutely and seriously deal with all kinds of violations of rules and regulations.”

This isn’t the first time football clubs in China have made headlines for seeking help from spirits to win a match.

In 2017, Henan Jianye – who at the time were bottom of the Chinese Super League – invited 15 Taoist priests to perform rituals on the field before their game against Shandong Luneng Taishan.

Henan won the game 2-1 in what was only their second win of the season. They eventually avoided relegation, finishing eight points above the drop zone.