Du's FIFA role a kick-start for China soccer

China now has a bigger voice in international soccer after a deputy minister of the General Administration of Sport was elected to the FIFA Council, the global governing body's main decision-making entity.

"China should have its own voice on the international soccer stage," 59-year-old Du Zhaocai told Xinhua News Agency after his election at the Asian Football Confederation Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday.

"We should better promote soccer development in China and Asia and the results of the election are very significant. We can be involved more directly in terms of decision-making in FIFA and the AFC, which will help boost the sport's development in China," Du said.