Last week, China introduced a grand plan to help improve football in this country -- that was in addition to its reformation launched in March 2015. The original strategy had an end goal to see the world's most populous nation become a football powerhouse. Now, these ideas are in the early stages, but it seems they are moving the game in the right direction here -- and a sudden influx of cash, has also helped shape the game.
It has been more than a year since the release of China's football reform plan and as the country tries to improve their standing within the beautiful game the nation made a bold statement when they decided to separate the Chinese F.A. from the General Administration of Sport -- a change that many believe has been needed for a long time.
However, the process doesn't come without its issues. One being the relationship between the CFA and teams in the CSL. Instead of the country's football marketing power being in the hands of the clubs it's the Association that calls the shots.
"You know the club owners of the Super League clubs they would have their say in the China Super League Company ... ... ..." Founder of Score Sports Yan Qiang said.
"I think we need a long process to change this gradually. Solving this problem needs joint efforts from the Chinese Super League Holding Company and the CFA. The direction of the issue is clear -- that we should let clubs play the key role in their markets," CFA vice president Wang Dengfeng said.
The release of the plan comes as China's football market began to boom last year. Since then, the Chinese Super League has sold a five-year television rights package for a record 8 billion yuan to media companay Ti'ao Dongli, and during the last winter transfer window, the CSL spent 2.4 billion RMB on new players, a total which led top flights around the world for that window .But with the heavy investment comes concerns regarding the priority of the spending back into Chinese football.
"My concern would be that hundreds of millions RMB which is being spent away from the grassroots ... ... ..." Clubfootbal FC chairman Rowan Simons said.
"I would say Germany gave us a lot of examples.... they had two disastrous.... what they do , they go back ... heavy investment in grassroots... professional clubs could also contribute to the youth development," Yan said.
Although, in order for China's dream to be realised a quick fix isn't an option but there is room for optimism within the games infrastructure thanks to increased attendances and a clear improvment in the stanard amongst home grown and foreign talent. All this points to signs of new heights for Chinese football in the distant future.
