Zhang Junzhe helps Hebei move home to Datong
Hebei moved their home stadium to Datong without the active coordination of local player Zhang Junzhe. Zhang Junzhe, a native of Datong, has grown from a grassroots to a professional player and has made a name for himself in the Chinese Super League, making him an influential figure in the local soccer community. It was thanks to his connections that the Hebei team and Datong Tourism were able to successfully meet and finalize their partnership.
The official announcement of Hebei Football Club states that the first home game will be staged on October 4 against Cangzhou Lions. This not only marks the first time that Datong and even Shanxi Province will host a Chinese Super League match, but also the first time that Zhang Junzhe will play in a professional league in front of his hometown fathers and mothers.
According to the strategic cooperation agreement signed by both parties, this cooperation will last until the end of this season. Although the two sides tend to favor long-term cooperation, considering the league policy, the FA relocation ban and other uncertainties, both sides are currently open to the idea.
It now appears that Hebei may be relegated to the Central League this season. This season, the Chinese League One has adopted the match system, and many clubs are unable to afford the cost of home and away matches due to operational difficulties. There is no clear news on whether home and away matches will be resumed in the next season, but if the match system continues, the cooperation between Hebei and Datong may be difficult to continue. If home and away matches are resumed, the two sides are still willing to continue to cooperate.
Adjustments to relocation policy on the horizon
As we all know, according to the policy of the Football Association (FA), professional league clubs are not allowed to transfer from one place to another. However, in view of the epidemic prevention and control needs, after the league resumed the home-and-away system this season, the CFA (chips) allowed some teams without the conditions for hosting matches to choose a third-party home stadium. It was with this policy that Hebei moved their home to Datong. However, compared with Shenhua, seaport and other clubs, the Hebei team will be the first team base camp directly moved to Datong, Shanxi, has shown signs of "foreign operation".
In fact, in recent years, the ecological environment of the league has deteriorated, a number of clubs are struggling to survive, and hope that the Football Association will liberalize the ban, so that teams can find a way out through relocation. The Football Association has also considered this, it is reported that the earliest the end of this year, the Football Association is expected to adjust the ban on relocation, low-level League B clubs may be the first to be allowed to relocate.
Hebei team in the form of a third-party home relocation to Shanxi, if you can achieve a win-win cooperation with Datong, the breakthrough of the ban on relocation is also a positive attempt, and for the Football Association to adjust the policy to provide an important basis.
