It may have appeared for some time now to be all quiet on the Chinese football front, the frenzied activity of the last two years having seemingly come to an end. And with the 2016-17 season just over, and the last Communist Party National Congress recently concluded, it is almost as though a lull has hit the country’s football.
Even so, look closely and one can observe that there is still plenty going on. Indeed, whilst there hasn’t recently been the splash of a major European club acquisition by Chinese investors, or a big international signing by a Chinese Super League club, strong signs are still there of what China’s government is thinking.
One need go no further than Hong Kong to see Beijing’s direction of travel. In recent weeks, China has forced the territory to criminalise disrespecting its national anthem, notably in response to the booing of it by Hong Kong football fans before their national team’s games. Fans object to China’s creeping influence in the semi-autonomous city.
China’s Guangzhou Evergrande club failed to fire in regional competition this season under the erstwhile Luiz Felipe Scolari. Photo: AFP
This creep is not, however, just characteristic of China’s relationship with Hong Kong. A recent extended article in Britain’s Financial Times observed how China’s next wave of investments is intended by Beijing to result in the development of “football with Chinese characteristics”.
This was always China’s intention, though the country has often struggled over the last two years to match its football vision with an appropriate strategy.
However, with President Xi Jinping’s position newly reinforced following the National Congress, the strategy now appears more coherent, more focused, and with a much stronger emphasis on China. Whilst the earlier introduction of a 100 per cent tax on overseas player acquisitions was a signal of Beijing’s desire to channel funds into Chinese football’s grassroots, it has subsequently become clear that the country’s investors, entrepreneurs and businesspeople are expected by their government to put China first.
Xi Jinping has consolidated power and will press ahead with his plans for the game in China. Photo: Xinhua
