Tag Archives: CSL

CHINESE FOOTBALL CORRUPTION REPORT

Detention of ex-Everton Star Li Tie Sparks Biggest Government Crackdown in a Decade

by a SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

China Sports Insider is delighted to publish the following contribution from a special correspondent, who wishes to remain anonymous. All details contained in this article have been translated from Chinese-language reports published on well-known Chinese websites, including official announcements on people detained for investigation etc.

PART 1 – The Online Sacrifice of a Greedy Icon

Like all good football corruption enquiries, the shocking criminal investigations playing out this winter in China started with complete silence. Early last November, one of the biggest stars in Chinese football disappeared. From a training session. According to reports, he told the other participants that he was going to “take some pictures”. He probably added, “I may be some time”.

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Shanghai Showdown: Cameron Wilson Talks Balls and Lockdowns

Long-time Shanghai resident and Chinese football expert Cameron Wilson is now on Day 23 of his lockdown on the Pudong side of the city. Given what’s happened there over the past few weeks, we felt it was important to get his views on both topics – the lockdown and the state of Chinese football. And, as a reader of China Sports Insider, here’s why YOU should care: although much of the world is likely disinterested about China’s current outbreak through a combination of COVID fatigue and/or the distraction of other news closer to home, how China handles this outbreak could define the global sports industry for years to come.

If China can walk this back from the cliff, with a short-term plan to keep the virus contained, a medium-term plan to get the elderly vaccinated and a longer-term plan to finally re-open its borders, there are enough green shoots of recovery to think that China’s sports industry could again become a major player. But if things in Shanghai keep going south, the border could remain closed indefinitely, continuing to cripple what’s left of China’s post-Olympics sports industry – and the ramifications in other sectors could be far, far larger. Full show below:

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Olympic “Boycott”, Hockey Showdown & the CSL Returns To Action

Episode 11 of the China Sports Insider Podcast features:

  • The latest on the Olympic ice hockey drama – the Chinese men’s team is now confirmed to be in, so what does that mean come February?
  • The US announces a diplomatic boycott (read “boycott”) for the 2022 Games; we discuss what that means in practical terms.
  • And with the Chinese Super League returning this weekend after a four-month break, we speak to Tariq Panja from The New York Times and Nikki Wang, formerly an adviser to the CSL with Deloitte, on the overall state of Chinese football and how things got so bad.

Click through to hear the show (full blurb and timestamps below). Please leave feedback in the comments!

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Memories of the 2008 Beijing Olympics – and what happened next

Ten years ago tonight, I had the privilege of witnessing one of the most dominant Olympic performances of our time, as Usain Bolt ran 9.69 in the men’s 100m final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But I nearly missed the race entirely – and much has changed in China’s sports scene over the ensuing decade.

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Why you should take headlines from China with a sack of salt

The headlines from China that make their way into the sports sections of western media very often contain errors, falsehoods and sometimes just downright lies. Two rules of thumb: if it sounds too good to be true, it is; and be very, very careful with numbers. Here’s a selection of recent stories that have stretched the truth in various ways… 

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Gov’t meddling in Chinese soccer, Pt 28: tattoo ban

You may have heard by now about China’s ban on tattoos, first announced in January when “hip-hop elements” were deemed no longer suitable for TV, and now scrubbed from soccer, too (as detailed below). But though this forms part of a wider campaign, Chinese football has seen the government get involved all too often. 

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Taxing debates blight Chinese football

CSL clubs approached the transfer window cautiously due to the new 100% transfer tax for foreign players – and the lack of detail surrounding it. But clubs are continuing to look for loopholes and that, coupled with Wanda’s return to Chinese football, could spark a return to spending in the summer. 

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Xi to stay on, Wanda to get out, Tmall turns to F1 and more Milan misery

Here’s a summary of what you can find in my weekly China Digest for SportBusiness:

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FIFA nets yet another Chinese sponsor, while CFA provides much-needed transfer clarity

Here’s a summary of what you can find in my weekly China Digest for SportBusiness:

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CSL TV rights deal resolved, 3×3 takes hold and the NBA’s New Year plans in China

In addition to my SupChina column, I’ve also been filing a weekly China Digest for SportBusiness over the past year. Here’s a summary of what you can find in this week’s version

Continue reading CSL TV rights deal resolved, 3×3 takes hold and the NBA’s New Year plans in China