Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 7 (Reporter Wei Hua Gongbing) Chinese Football Association President Chen Xuyuan revealed in an interview with the media on the 7th that the World Cup qualifier Asian Top 40 is expected to be held from September to November this year. The Super League that can be played will face adjustments. The following is the interview record:
China Football Association's recent work priorities
Chen Xuyuan: The Chinese Football Association has not stopped working since February 6. In the past three months, our work has focused on these aspects: one is the preparation of national teams at all levels; the second is the preparation of specific implementation opinions for the reform of the Chinese football; the third is the reform of the Football Association itself, including the adjustment of the organization; the fourth is Research on the operation plan of the league, etc.
The top 40 is expected to take place from September to November this year
Chen Xuyuan: We have fully communicated with the AFC and FIFA. It should be said that the top 40 will be basically completed from September to November. The men's national football team is also preparing for battle according to this schedule. We still have four opponents: Maldives, Guam, Philippines and Syria. At present, the overall prevention and control of the epidemic situation in China is good, but it is still relatively serious abroad. There are uncertainties in the future. We will continue to maintain close contact and communication with the AFC and various football associations.
In the future, we will have three home and one away, of which Guam will play against Guam. We will face the requirements of Guam's prevention and control. Although the qualifier time is basically determined, prevention and control are still the focus. We will discuss the plan with AFC. The game will be completed at this stage.
The advancement of the Chinese Women ’s Football Team to the Olympic Games is a major task of the Chinese Football Association. The Olympic Qualifier Playoffs with South Korea may be postponed to next year. The current training is to run towards this goal. When the women ’s football league is over, the training will be based on We try our best to advance to the Olympic Games.
Super League faces adjustment
Chen Xuyuan: Throughout the Super League, we are also communicating with the club and constantly optimizing the program. Once the requirements for epidemic prevention and control are met, the league will be launched as soon as possible. Compared with the previous league, we made three plans.
One is the complete plan, and the other is the plan from June to December according to the time node. If the delay continues, there will be a third set of plans. There are two basic points in this, one is to start as early as possible in accordance with the requirements of prevention and control, and the other is that the game has been adjusted compared with the past to ensure the quality of the league. The beginning of the league requires an empty court, and then gradually increase the number of fans.
If the game starts in late June and ends in December, during the six months, one month will be reserved for the national team and one month for the AFC Championship. In fact, it is only 4 months for the professional league. It is impossible to complete 30 rounds in 4 months. In order to complete the league, it may be divided into groups A and B, and cross-match and knockout will be conducted in stages.
The Super League reserve team is playing the second division, basically set!
Chen Xuyuan: During this time, we focused on the Super League reserve team to play in the second league. Previously, the outside world generally reported that the reserve team league effect was not good, so we proposed that the Super League reserve team play the second league. Technical and tactical capabilities are helpful. We have listened to the opinions of most clubs. Most clubs are willing to participate in the second league, which is basically determined.
The National Youth team will participate in the preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The team also faces the problem of low quality of the game. We let the National Youth Team play the second division, which will help the National Youth growth. These teams participate in the second division, in principle, there will be points, but will not participate in the promotion and demotion.
The overall anti-epidemic situation in the league is good
Chen Xuyuan: This year's epidemic prevention and control, there is no case of domestic players infected with the new crown virus, which is gratifying. There is an import case between a Chinese team and Shandong Luneng, but the players have recovered and each team is training intensively, and the training situation is relatively normal.
Call on players to accept temporary pay cuts
Chen Xuyuan: Our teams at all levels have different levels of operational difficulties. I have always emphasized the need for a healthy professional league after the Football Association. The health of the league is first and foremost a financial balance. At present, almost no teams in our professional league are profitable.
We are very concerned about the impact of this epidemic on investors. It is unrealistic to ask the Football Association to help clubs with cash. We must help these clubs in terms of policies and rules. Reduce the basic investment of the club and some extra expenses in policy.
We will issue a proposal in the past two days, calling on players to accept temporary salary cuts as the club wishes. The salary reduction date is from March 1 to the start of the league. The salary reduction is 30% to 50%. The specific consultation between the club and the players will benefit both parties in the long run.
Foreign aid is also the same. We communicated with FIFA during this time, and they also agree with our point of view. It is unfair if there is a salary limit for domestic players and foreign aid is not.
In the future, salary cuts are also necessary. We must have the courage to break the wrists of the strong men and reshape the financial system.
Professional League will not stop
Chen Xuyuan: The formation of a professional league (the "Professional League Council" in the foot-reform program) should be completed last year, but the idea at the time was to set up an enterprise-based organization to manage the Super League. Later, we carefully studied the spirit of the 50-foot reform plan, which clearly defined that the professional alliance is a corporate legal person and unifiedly manages the Super League, China A, and China B. Later we made adjustments, which required time and effective communication with relevant departments and clubs. Our formation has come to an end, the charter has basically been established, and I believe that a professional alliance will be established in at most one or two months.
Some time ago, some media believed that the Chinese Football Association was unwilling to decentralize. This statement is wrong. The Chinese Football Association should let go. Matters related to the professional league market, schedule and calendar will be put to the management of the league. The Football Association is mainly for service and supervision. Although the club is assured, we hope that the league will work well, which will bring benefits to the league.