A critical point for the Chinese football league
(newsphoto)
Updated: 2004-10-19 10:10

Two fans of the Beijing Hyundai football team show their support for the club October 18 after it was punished for boycotting a game early this month due to alleged unfair refereeing. Under pressure from the Chinese Premier League clubs, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) agreed to reform the current league management and regulation system and promised to open up its financial books. It is widely believed that the Chinese football league is plagued by irregularities, including unfair refereeing, fixed matches and betting. [newsphoto]  Yang Zuwu (R), general manager of Beijing Guo'an Football Club, and Lin Lefeng, general manager of Dalian Shide Football Club, walk to the conference room in a Beijing hotel to discuss the reforms of the Chinese league's management and regulation system. The two clubs are the main advocates for such reforms and exert much pressure on the CFA for such reforms. Yan Shiduo, executive vice president of the CFA, is surrounded by journalists after the meeting of the Chinese Premier League Commission Standing Committee in Beijing October 18. Yan promised to open up its financial books. [newsphoto]

As part of a number of suggestions aimed at rejuvenating the troubled league, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) says it will open up its books.

Yan Shiduo, CFA vice president, said at an all-member meeting of the Chinese Premier League Commission Standing Committee that it will open its financial reports to all the football clubs this year.

Clubs have pointed fingers at the CFA for lack of transparency in its financial reports.

"I promise to open the CFA's financial reports this year," said Yan. "The financial situation of the league is sure to need improvement."

A series of 13 documents, released by Xu Ming, chairman of Dalian Shide Football Club, the six-time first division champion, was the main point of discussion at the meeting.

The documents proposed several steps to bring stability to the league, including opening ten-year financial reports of the CFA to all clubs, setting up a professional football club union and stopping relegation this season.

The suggestions were considered revolutionary and likely to rejuvenate a league hurt by resentment among officials.

Yang Yimin, CFA vice president, stood by Xu's suggestions.

"I will support these reform suggestions, definitely," said Yang. "We hope for more beneficial suggestions from clubs and need time to discuss them carefully."

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