China's top-flight league in danger of cuts despite profits

Though the Chinese Super League (CSL) is making big money from its sponsors, the coming 2009-2010 season may see the number of sides trimmed to allow more time for training camps involving the underachieving national teams.

China's failure to reach next year's World Cup in South Africa and the Olympic team's demise at the group stage at last year's Beijing Games has sparked some senior officials to look at an overhaul of the game here.

According to a proposal made by the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the current 16-team league could be trimmed to 12 teams next year, meaning the season would be shorter and thus allow more time for national training camps - with the immediate goals being the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.