What’s wrong with professional football in China?

The Chinese professional football scene – and the men’s national team in particular – has been mired in scandal and stories of poor performance. The most recent example emerged as hundreds of Chinese athletes prepared to compete for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the men's football team was eliminated in the qualifying rounds. So, what has gone wrong with professional football in China and why has the nation struggled to make a mark in the beautiful game?