Entering the 2021 season, the Professional League Preparatory Group (PLPG), which first came to prominence with the responsibility of running and managing the three tiers of the national soccer league, was ushered into an unprecedented mess. The 30 rounds of matches originally scheduled for the Chinese Super League had envisioned a return to home and away matches in the second half of the year if the epidemic situation improved. However, the capriciousness of the epidemic and the continued implementation of the national anti-epidemic policy has resulted in the cost of the national team's participation in the 12-team tournament being far greater than ever before.
The preparatory team has fully taken into account the needs of the national team to prepare for the Top 12, and the 22-round competition plan formulated at the beginning of the year was designed to safeguard the preparations while not being carried out across the year. However, all plans were disrupted after the national team was forced to move the last three Top 40 matches to West Asia. The original plan to finish the Top 40 on June 15 and resume league play on June 21 was shattered. The national team returned to Suzhou after the tournament on June 17, and with the 14+7 quarantine period, the league resumed on July 15 at the earliest. The remaining nine rounds of the first phase of the league will need to be digested in 40 days, which will undoubtedly delay the tournament until late August. The national team has already made a request for early training to complete the 9 rounds of competition in a shorter period of time, which poses a huge challenge to the team and league management and broadcasting.
With the safeguarding of the epidemic policy, it is not possible to organize leagues in September, October and November, leaving only December for the 2021 league season. Will it take place across the year or will other solutions be found?
[30 rounds of the program have been rendered moot and 22 rounds are facing major difficulties]
The preparatory group has been looking for the best solution for the continuation of the league, and there are currently four options: one is to complete 30 rounds of the league, but the home-and-away system is basically impossible, and can only take the system of cross-year matches, but this will not be completed until at least June or July 2022, and it will be staggered with the rest of the tournaments in Asia, so the 30-round plan has become an empty talk; the second is to play only 22 rounds, which is divided into the cross-year and non-cross-year two plans: if it is not cross-year, the The remaining nine rounds will be played in one month, and the remaining eight rounds will be completed in December; if the year is crossed, January 2022 also needs to reserve preparation time for the national team, and the game can be played in late February, but the AFC Champions League season will start in March; the third is to play only 15 rounds, which seems to be feasible in terms of time, but in fact, it's the most troublesome program, which needs to be changed three times, and it is a huge pressure on the organization and reception, epidemic prevention and other aspects, and it is not conducive to the league's It is not good for the influence of the league and the competitive status of the teams, and it is also a huge loss for the sponsors.
Detailed analysis of the feasibility of each program: 30 rounds of league matches across the year is prevalent in Europe, but it is not feasible in our country because it is inconsistent with the system of other Asian countries, and the northern teams do not have the conditions for training and playing across the year, and they can not have normal outdoor training and playing from December to April; 22 rounds of league matches are recognized by the clubs, especially the home and away matches in phases, but it is extremely difficult and challenging. The 22-round league plan was recognized by the clubs, especially the phased home and away system, but it faced great difficulties and challenges, as nine rounds of matches had to be completed before the national team's training in August, which was an extreme challenge to the quality of the league, broadcasting, competition intensity and refereeing.
[15 rounds of the program is unacceptable]
The third option, playing only 15 rounds, seems feasible but is actually difficult for sponsors to accept. Therefore, the 22-round league scenario is relatively the most maneuverable among the various imperfect systems and makes the most sense for teams, sponsors and the league in the long run.
Chen Xuyuan, chairman of the National Football Association, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that the league is the pillar of the national football team, and the league cannot be sacrificed for the national team's preparation. During the national team's preparations and matches, the Chinese Super League must not continue, and the league without the participation of national team players loses a lot of significance. Currently studying three detailed plans, seeking the views of the Chinese Super League clubs, and ultimately forming a generally accepted league plan.
In the current situation, it is difficult to find the perfect solution to both protect the league and support the national team to prepare for the tournament in advance. Either the national team does not prepare for the game in advance or advances a few days less, increasing the number of competition days for the league; or the league makes major concessions, choosing between high-intensity, high-intensity tournaments and cross-year tournaments. Issues involving frequent trips in and out of the tournament, contract renewals for internal and external supporters, etc., are all challenges.
Therefore, no matter which option is introduced, it will cause dissatisfaction because there is no perfect solution. If we can see the advantages and disadvantages and logical relationship, more tolerance and understanding, the national team and the league interests bundled, and jointly contribute to the development of national football, many difficult problems will also be solved.
