On November 22nd, a storm was created in the Chinese soccer world. Song Kai, the new head of the Football Association, decisively announced that the construction of a professional league was being pushed forward without stopping, aiming to strengthen the management framework of the Chinese soccer league. This happy news has undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the Chinese Super League.
For a long time, the prevalence of golden dollar soccer and the dispute over neutral names have had a profound impact on the Chinese soccer league. Frequent team disbandments, unpaid player salaries, and match-fixing and betting scandals have all seriously hampered the league's healthy development. In addition, the U23 policy implemented by the FA and the decision to give way to the training of national teams have also been criticized by outsiders as unprofessional. Now, Song Kai has succeeded Chen Xuyuan and is determined to put the league on a professional track.
Song Kai revealed, "The FA is working intensively to plan a professional league, and plans to include this in the fifty articles for the reform and development of Chinese soccer. Substantial progress has been made on the plan since the change of government." Song Kai also emphasized that the birth of a professional league is just around the corner, which will greatly improve the league's management level.
From Song Kai's statement, it is easy to see that the FA's strategic decision is wise and forward-looking. In the future, the professional league will take over the management of the soccer league and lead the league towards professional development. Although Song Kai did not disclose too many details, this change is undoubtedly good news for the Chinese Super League clubs such as Beijing Guoan, Shandong Taishan, Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai Harbor, and has won wide praise from fans.
Some fans lamented, "The only way to achieve healthy growth is to professionalize the league and let go of the FA. After all, the league is the foundation of Chinese soccer, its rise and fall, directly related to the standard of the national team!" Another fan said: "Words must be said to reform, but what is the effectiveness of the reform? Chen Xuyuan vowed to reform the league when he took office, but three years later, he has not seen any results. The league is very profitable, who wants to let go?
There are also some fans who hold a different view: "Every time the FA changes, there are high-ranking officials talking about professionalization and youth training, but after several years, no substantial results have been seen. Chinese soccer is deteriorating, while Japan and South Korea's soccer is developing rapidly, and can even beat Germany. We have more empty talk and less practical work, just changing a signboard."
