Chinese cash for overseas teams 'helps build bridges'

Huge sums poured into deals expected to benefit domestic game through acquisition of expertise and knowledge

China's ambitious investment in professional football overseas is likely to pay off at home with a boost in the domestic game, thanks to expertise gained from being close to the action in well-established foreign clubs, industry insiders say.

They were responding to critics who say football-obsessed Chinese tycoons have been scrambling to buy stakes in European clubs. Many observers have asked whether the fantastic sums of money involved should have been invested in football within China.

But James Johnson, head of FIFA's professional football department, says China will end up reaping the benefit of the overseas investments.

"It's a double-edged sword," Johnson says. "It makes sense on one hand that you would hope the investment remains in China, but on the other hand, when you have invested in these clubs in Europe, you gain expertise and knowledge while developing networks that you couldn't develop if you had not invested."

He spoke in Beijing recently as part of a delegation from the game's world governing body attending the 2016 Professional Football Law and Governance Conference. The gathering attracted league executives and legal advisers from around the world.

The event was hosted by Beijing-based Sodasoccer, a company providing data analysis for the professional football industry.

Han Qingshan, Sodasoccer's CEO, says becoming a shareholder in European clubs offers direct access and the chance to learn from professionals at the highest level.

"It helps build bridges between China and Europe in club operations, youth training and brand marketing and provides a opportunity to bring the know-how home from overseas," he says.

Recently, investments by Chinese in football overseas have surged.

Despite assurances that such investments will end up benefiting the Chinese domestic game, some pundits are not convinced.

"If you look at it, the first reason why these wealthy investors are doing this is for business reasons," says David Frommer, senior strategic adviser at the European Club Association.

"They are buying for themselves, to build their prestige and because they want to make money out of it. I don't see how much it will benefit Chinese football. I am not sure what the benefit will be."

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 06/03/2016 page16)