On January 20, with the launch of the investigation of former Football Association (FA) Secretary General Liu Yi and FA Executive Deputy Secretary General Chen Yongliang, veteran reporter Pei Li predicted that the selection process of the national soccer team's coaches would be at risk of being suspended.
Looking back at the end of last year, rumors were swirling about a new coach for the national football team, hinting that the choice could be made on the eve of the Chinese New Year. The FA's intention was to bring in a foreign coach who had played a coaching role in a major international tournament, but at the same time it also favored coaches who could integrate quickly. However, in the face of urgent preparations and heavy workload, if the foreign coach can not be in place in a timely manner, the Association is not intended to let the current coach Li Xiaopeng temporarily take over the heavy responsibility of leading the team until the new coach is in place.
With the FA senior management have been taken away, the national football coach selection process may be further hindered. Pei Li bluntly: "Once the secretary general is investigated, the national team selection naturally stop. At this time, people are in fear, who still have the mood to deal with this matter? Currently the most urgent problem, I'm afraid that the national team can still maintain how much cohesion."
