Wang calls on nation to back new coach

Chinese tycoon Wang Jianlin called on the nation to support newly-appointed Chinese national soccer coach Jose Antonio Camacho after the Spaniard signed a three-year contract with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) in Beijing on Sunday.

"If you are a real Chinese, a real Chinese soccer fan, please support Camacho," said Wang, chairman of Chinese real estate company Dalian Wanda, which has promised to inject 500 million yuan ($77.3 million) over three years to boost Chinese soccer, including inviting a world-class coach to help the national program.

However, the 56-year-old businessman's determination to replace former coach Gao Hongbo has been criticized in some quarters as being unreasonable and meddling too much in the sport.