On Jan. 31, the Nantong Zhiyun team was challenged to prepare for the new season. Source: icphoto
On February 1, the Chinese men's national football team unveiled plans for two warm-up matches against New Zealand in March, with the venues settled. The national football team, which has been resting for a long time, is blowing the rallying cry again. Meanwhile, the start date of the 2023 Chinese Super League is also on everyone's mind. The current news is that the season is expected to kick off in late April. Before the season kicks off, clubs will need to complete the debt clearance and access process.
many twists and turns
The transfer window has gone through several changes, with the latest moves pointing to an April launch
On the evening of January 31, FIFA's Transfer Matching System (fifatms) released the latest information that the international transfer window for the 2023 Chinese men's football team had been postponed from the scheduled February 1 to February 20 and was set to close on April 10, while the summer transfer window had also been postponed from July 1 to August 1 and was set to end on August 31st.
China's professional soccer league's international transfer window time has changed several times, the earliest announced window opening time is January 16, was scheduled to end on February 28; January 16, fifatms again updated the window period to February 1; January 31 evening, the transfer period again adjusted.
As a rule, the transfer window usually opens 1-2 months before the start of the league and closes 1-2 weeks before the start of the league. Considering that transfer times may be dynamically adjusted according to schedules and events, if the transfer period from February 20 to April 10 does not change, the kick-off of the new Chinese Super League season will likely be in mid-April.
For some clubs, it will be a challenge to pass the "clearing" test. Source: icphoto
many difficulties
Can the Super League get back on a healthy track if "clearing arrears" is linked to access?
On December 21st of last year, CFA issued a circular requesting professional clubs in the Chinese Super League, Chinese First Division and Chinese Second Division to resolve all historical wage arrears by December 31st, 2022, taking into account the specific circumstances of each club. Considering the specific situation of each club, the deadline of January 31 this year was set for "clearing the arrears".
According to a notice issued by the CFA and the CFL Preparatory Group before the start of last season, clubs at all levels are required to gradually resolve historical wage arrears in accordance with the timeline. Clubs that fail to repay the arrears within the stipulated timeframe will face different levels of penalties, including deduction of league points, relegation and even disqualification from the league. Judging from the fact that a number of clubs failed to repay salary arrears on schedule and had their league points deducted last season, the CFA and the preparatory group of the CFA have a firm attitude towards the repayment of salary arrears.
A number of clubs at all levels of professional leagues have faced survival difficulties in recent years due to the epidemic and other factors. As a result, the CFA relaxed its admission criteria for the 2022 season, but will return to normal for the 2023 season - if a club fails to pay back salary arrears, it will be difficult to pass the admission audit. "Clearing arrears has become a key step in the access process, and a key to the healthy development of the Chinese Super League.
It is reported that the CFA and CFL preparatory team will hold a meeting of the heads of the professional league clubs next week, when the clubs will be informed of the relevant league policies, including the criteria and timing of the access audit.
