Under the gloom of the epidemic, China's soccer has undergone two seasons of the test of the tournament system. Faced with the urgent need for the national soccer team to embark on the World Cup qualifying campaign, the three-tier league had to be temporarily transformed. However, this model has had a significant impact on the quality of the game, the appeal of the league and the power of media communication. As global sporting events gradually return to the right track, there is an urgent need to restore normality to soccer in China.
Recently, the CFF Association Competition Department and the CFF Preparatory Group actively discussed the new season's tournament arrangements and released to the clubs the preliminary idea of resuming the home-and-away system of the league in the 2022 season. It is reported that the Football Association plans to gradually resume the home and away match system of the Chinese Super League, the Chinese First Division and the Chinese Second Division under the conditions of the normalization of epidemic prevention and control launched in April.
Although the restoration of the home-and-away system has become a matter of popular demand, the epidemic is still lingering and the relevant work is still in the preparatory stage. The preliminary views of the HKFA and the CFL need to be approved at a higher level before they can be implemented. There is still uncertainty over the format and schedule of the new three-tier league season.
The resumption of the home-and-away system in the Chinese Super League is not a one-day process, as clubs have to wait for the approval of the Football Association and local epidemic control authorities. The clubs have to wait for the approval of the FA and the local epidemic prevention and control departments. 16 teams are located in more than 10 provinces and cities across the country, with different measures to prevent epidemics, and in case of an epidemic, the whole league will be implicated. In the current environment, restoring the home-and-away system and allowing fans to attend matches on-site is a huge challenge.
The return to the home-and-away system presents both opportunities and challenges for clubs. For two years, the match system has led to a sharp drop in ticket revenue and investment promotion activities. The return of fans will help boost the league's atmosphere and club revenues. However, whether the fans can enter the matches remains a concern.
Drawing on the experience of the CBA league, the Chinese Super League (CSL) may adopt a selective spectator admission policy. the CBA league has already begun to gradually restore spectator admission and plans to implement half-time spectator admission for next month's All-Star Game. Although the CFL may adopt a more cautious strategy, fans' desire to watch the games live will undoubtedly be the driving force.
The restoration of the home and away system is not an overnight success, but it is a crucial step towards normalization of soccer in China. Let's expect the CFA to move forward in its exploration and contribute to the prosperity of soccer in China!
