The Chinese U23 men's football team's starting lineup gathers for a match of the CFA Team China International tournament in Suzhou, East China on Aug. 9, 2018. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Football Association (CFA) has denied recent speculation that the Chinese national team will join the 16 clubs to compete in the Chinese Super League (CSL) next season.

"There have been reports saying that our national team will play in the CSL in the 2019 season, but it is fake news," CFA said on its Twitter-like Weibo account on Monday.

"The size and the competition format of the CSL will not change next season," the governing body of Chinese football added in the statement.

However, CFA last week confirmed that a series of reforms will be taken, including a salary cap and a bonus cap for the CSL and lower professional leagues from next season.

The 2018 season of the CSL concluded two weeks ago with Shanghai SIPG clinching the title after thwarting Guangzhou Evergrande's attempt to win the trophy for the eighth straight year.