The stories that shaped 2017

Kicking on with reforms

China may have failed to qualify for FIFA World Cup finals for the fourth time in succession in September, however, the country continued to make progress with the development of its grassroots and domestic game. A total of 20,000 schools specializing in the sport had been established by the end of 2017, while the Chinese Super League's rising profile was underlined by the presence of a record three CSL clubs reaching the last 16 of the AFC Champions League in May. Meanwhile, the CFA imposed new rules to curb lavish spending on foreign players after the top-tier teams splashed out a whopping $410 million in the 2016-17 winter transfer window.

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