The course of change in China's soccer market has been dramatic, and the institutional changes in the national team have been quite profound. Since the official establishment of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) in June 1992, soccer has become the pioneer of sports reform, and has started the process of marketization. In the blink of an eye, this has gone through more than thirty years of spring and autumn, the player's value has risen, million dollar price has become the norm, they have become the club owner's eyes of the profitability of the treasure trove, and whether or not you can get on the stage, often depends on personal relationships and financial strength.
In this context, we may not need to excessively equate the national soccer team with national honor and patriotism. In fact, this is just a commercial show that follows the laws of market economy.
The men's soccer system has not collapsed, but how much economic benefit do national soccer players bring to the Olympic gold medal program? It has been jokingly suggested that their prize money is perhaps a fraction of what a diver receives - $40,000 or $50,000 dollars. Can such an income make them self-sufficient? In reality, it all depends on financial support! A truly independent program should be able to be self-sufficient, as in the case of soccer.
Looking at our first division league, Guangzhou is in third place, but this is not because they are overpowered, but because the overall level of the league is low and their opponents are intentionally letting in water. There is even a view that Guangzhou is to blame for the low level of the national soccer team, and they seem content with their relegation success.
Some fans said bluntly: in the past, there were always people questioning the Guangzhou team's reliance on foreign aid, but Golat led the Evergrande players to win the championship with his own strength. On the contrary, a certain Hong Kong team, once the foreign aid left the team, will not be able to beat the amateur team in Suzhou. Guangzhou's soccer system is beyond the reach of other teams, and even harder for other clubs to replicate.
