By Gu Jianjun, post-doctorate with the World Development Strategy Research Institution of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau.

China's national drive on football development has been endorsed by a newly-issued plan on April 11 to help the national football team ascend to world class status by 2030.

The plan was issued by a joint committee of the State General Administration of Sports, Chinese Football Association, Ministry of Education and the National Development and Reform Commission.

The plan stipulates three stages: 2016-2020, 2021-2030, and 2031-2050. Chinese football has developed rapidly with more than a hundred million fans and a maturing system of matches.

School football league matches would hold more than a hundred thousand matches annually, whereas 52 professional clubs have established a professional tournament, centering on the Chinese Super League, Chinese Football Association China League, and Chinese Football Association Division Two League.

There have been over 15,000 matches with the Chinese Super League over the last ten years. Yet, there are drawbacks. Chinese football has fallen far behind the world level in development and legal issues.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Reuters last October that he hopes China could strive to join the league of first-class football superpowers.

Beijing will continue to develop youth football games, upgrade the football profession system, enhance international cooperation and strengthen the football industry to get on the right path for development.

Last March, the General Office of the State Council (China's cabinet) unveiled "Chinese football reform and development," putting forward a three-step strategy.

The medium and long-term targets are bids to host the men's World Cup and getting the men's team on top of the Fifa world rankings. Football circles and education departments in China are feeling excited. The State Council has formed a football reform steering group led by Vice Premier Liu Yandong. 

After a year, "the medium and long-term development plan of Chinese football" comes out as another weighty document, which had thrilled football circles again.

The plan highlighted a clear-cut timetable and roadmap for China to realize "a football rise dream, a sports power dream, and a national rejuvenation dream." China football reform has entered a feasible stage and to realize all those goals a down-to-earth job needs patience and determination.

The previous decline of China's football was due to a too ambitious campaign with scant practical measures. How to target those numbers is the key to make Chinese football great again.

Gu Jianjun, post-doctorate with the World Development Strategy Research Institution of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau.
 

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