Gao Zhidan, Director of the General Administration of Sport, gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the First Session of the 14th National People’s Congress in Beijing on March 12 (XINHUA) 

China will resolutely crack down on and severely punish corruption and other illegal activities in football including gambling so as to promote the sound development of the sport, the country’s sports head said on the sideline of the country’s annual session of the top legislature on March 12. 

“Recently, in view of some serious problems in the field of football, we have been reflecting deeply and exploring solutions,” said Director of China’s General Administration of Sport Gao Zhidan as he gave an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the First Session of the 14th National People’s Congress, exposing that the development of China’s three big ball sports (football, basketball and volleyball), especially that of Chinese men’s football, has not been satisfactory. 

When answering a question from Beijing Review on China’s football, basketball and volleyball development, Gao used an analogy to compare problems in the country’s football development to diseases. “We will use powerful drugs to treat these disorders and severe diseases,” he said, adding that systems will be improved to reach the goal. 

Gao also said that China will promote football in schools and youth football clubs so as to nurture more young football talent. The country will also improve the professional leagues and other football competition systems as channels for young football players to be scouted and to develop. 

“We will take initiative to develop youth football clubs, provide policy, funding and human resource support for football activities suitable for ordinary people, and promote positive interaction between amateur and professional football,” he added.  

China had named more than 30,000 primary and middle schools across the country as specialist football schools to spearhead youth football development by August 2022, according to the Ministry of Education. These schools are required to offer at least one football class each week and encourage their students to participate in training and competition. China aims to have 50,000 schools specializing in youth football by the end of 2025. 

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson  

Comments to luyan@cicgamericas.com