CFA: Limits on imported players to remain in place

Despite the positive effect naturalized duo Ai Kesen and Li Ke have had on Team China's World Cup qualification campaign so far, recent reports that the country could grant citizenship to up to 50 foreign-born players sent alarm bells ringing among fans.

Numerous media outlets reported that the Chinese Football Association is planning to extend its quota of naturalized players to 50, prompting concern that such a policy would be damaging to the next generation of homegrown hopefuls.

However, on Tuesday, the CFA denied the rumors in a statement posted on Weibo, which read: "The basis for signing foreign players in Chinese professional leagues and naturalized-player policies are that they benefit the healthy development of the leagues, that they boost the growth of Chinese homegrown players and that they facilitate Chinese soccer youth training.