China: Football Federation entrusts the organization of the Chinese Super League to clubs from 2020

"The control and organization of the Chinese Super League (CSL) will now be entrusted to the clubs in order to encourage its commercial development," announced the Chinese Football Federation (CFA), which had been in charge, until now, of the Chinese first division, on 16/10/2019.

"A committee of the CSL will be constituted by the end of 2019 to put in place the new operation of the pyramid of professional football of the country," added the CFA, which is about to sell its shares in the holding company in charge of the organization of the Chinese Super League, for the benefit of the 16 participating clubs.

"In the future, the CSL will function as an independent, market-oriented company, like the Premier League in England. The CFA will no longer be involved in the day-to-day running of the League, but will instead act as a supervisory body," said Liu Yi, secretary general of the Chinese Football Association.

This change is part of the reforms promised by Chen Xuyuan, the new president of the CFA since his election on 22/08/2019.

• The Chinese Super League has existed in its…