In the international soccer world, the figure of the third-party independent arbitration institution has always been pivotal, while in China, such a mechanism has always been absent. This has put China's professional players in a dilemma, as they often feel powerless and unable to protect their rights and interests. When the CFA transferred the authority to arbitrate unpaid wages to the China Sports Arbitration Commission (CSAC), it was undoubtedly a major breakthrough in Chinese sports, especially in soccer. However, it will take time to see if the Chinese Sports Arbitration Commission can take effective measures quickly. Whether Jiangsu Suning Football Club, which has been stripped of its registration status by the CFA, has the right to initiate arbitration proceedings is also up in the air.
In view of the widespread problem of salary arrears in soccer in China, the Sports Arbitration Commission, which was established in February with only 41 arbitrators, has been tasked with a heavy responsibility covering not only the soccer field, but also the entire sports sector. How to provide a solution for players who are owed wages in a swift, efficient and timely manner has become an urgent challenge. Currently, the specifics of enforcing compensation standards, whether based on labor law or FIFA's industry regulations, are unclear. The next move of the China Sports Arbitration Commission will reveal the answer for us.
In the eyes of some fans, Chinese professional players always seem to be equated with high salaries, luxury cars and famous lists. In the era of gold-dollar soccer, Chinese Super League players do enjoy treatment beyond the norm. However, in the B-level, A-level and even the Super League, there are still many players who, like the general public, are under great pressure of life. It is not uncommon for them to go without pay for a year. The demands of these players deserve equal attention.
If a Chinese soccer player's career plan is limited to finding a club that pays a regular monthly salary, what is the future of Chinese soccer? Players can't even guarantee a basic income. How many parents would be willing to push their children into the quagmire of Chinese soccer? Therefore, the establishment of the China Sports Arbitration Commission not only fills the gap of an independent sports arbitration body in China, but also shoulders the important task of improving the environment of soccer and even the whole sports, carrying the hope of solving the problem of talent drain, the importance of which is self-evident.
