The soccer world in China is now experiencing an unprecedented cold period. A number of media outlets have revealed that many soccer clubs are facing a crisis of dismantling, with a surge of unemployment among players, and the number of unemployed people is expected to exceed 100!
Soccer Daily and other authoritative sports media have revealed that at least two clubs in the Chinese Super League and First Division will announce their dissolution in the next month or two, with more teams expected to join the ranks of as many as five. The Chinese Super League, which has just expanded to 18 teams, may have to be downsized to 16, which has caused headaches for Chen Xuyuan, president of the Football Association.
As president of the FA since 2019, Chen Xuyuan has implemented a series of radical reforms, such as renaming clubs and continuing the U23 policy, in a bid to focus on the future of soccer. However, these policies have been detrimental to China's soccer industry. The introduction of Chinese names has discouraged investors from investing in the soccer sector. Originally, celebrities acquired Chinese league teams mainly for the purpose of naming rights and publicizing their businesses, but now that the greatest benefits have been taken away, investing in soccer is like investing in a bottomless pit, and various industries are no longer interested in investing in soccer.
According to statistics, since Chen Xuyuan took office, 34 teams at all levels of the league have announced their dissolution, including champions like Jiangsu Suning. Now that the league bubble has burst, clubs are still struggling to be sustainable. During the break, we will witness more clubs dissolving. The players in these clubs may be left with headless debts if their clubs disappear.
It is reported that the clubs that may be disbanded include Wuhan Changjiang, Hebei and the former Asian champions Guangzhou. The dissolution of Wuhan Changjiang seems to be finalized. The media revealed that the Wuhan Changjiang club has received a notice of dissolution, and the team is trying to solve the problem of salary arrears. Hebei's salary arrears are so serious that the club can't afford it, so disbanding seems to be the only way out. As for Guangzhou, the former Asian champions are falling fast after losing the support of their gold master. Last season, they were relegated from the Chinese Super League to the Central League, and the situation is still not optimistic for the 2023 season. If they fail to achieve self-sufficiency, Guangzhou may eventually be disbanded.
It can be said that China's soccer has entered a new "cold winter". In such an environment, how can we expect the national soccer team to break into the World Cup?
