Tag Archives: Guangzhou Evergrande

Football

CHINESE FOOTBALL CORRUPTION REPORT

1 Comment

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”.

Continue reading CHINESE FOOTBALL CORRUPTION REPORT →
Football

Breaking down Chinese football’s latest brainwaves

3 Comments
Late on Wednesday night, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) released details of two new rules that the Chinese Super League (CSL) must follow. Both rules are significant and have immediate consequences, not just for Chinese football, but for the global transfer market. Let’s break down the what and the why of Chinese football’s latest brainwaves, before examining what consequences are likely. 

Continue reading Breaking down Chinese football’s latest brainwaves →

Column, Football

Lippi cashes in on China’s Mission Impossible

Leave a comment

It clearly takes a lot to tempt Italian coaching legend Marcello Lippi out of retirement for one last job, but fortunately for him there are some very deep pockets in China.

While Lippi will be officially announced as the new coach of China’s national soccer team on Friday, reports have revealed that he and his team – of whom former Everton star Li Tie will be a part – will collect 20 million euros annually over an initial two-year term.

Given China’s precarious state in the final round of AFC qualifying – bottom of Group A after four games – it’s less like a final throw of the dice than a refusal to accept that the die has already been cast.

In the video below, China Sports Insider’s Mark Dreyer discusses the Lippi hiring on CCTV News, with Yan Qiang, Tian Wei and Simon Pusey: Continue reading Lippi cashes in on China’s Mission Impossible →

Column, Football

China set for underdog role in World Cup qualifying

7 Comments
10 games over the next 12 months will determine whether or not China can qualify for the FIFA World Cup for just the second time in history. 

Continue reading China set for underdog role in World Cup qualifying →

Football

Explained: What’s behind Chinese takeovers of football clubs

4 Comments

I spoke to Sky Sports reporter Johnny Phillips last week for a piece he did on the increasing amount of Chinese investment directed at English football clubs in recent weeks. Editors being as they are, only a few selected highlights appeared in the finished article, but we covered a lot of ground, so here is an uncut version (completed shortly before the Wolves deal – the latest of the Chinese takeovers – was announced), touching on why rumours spread so quickly, West Brom’s possible owner and his plans for world domination, Sven spouting nonsense and why Wolves fans are probably sleeping better than Villa ones at the moment.

Continue reading Explained: What’s behind Chinese takeovers of football clubs →

Column, Football

AC Milan’s Chinese saga nears end as rumor mill grinds on

Leave a comment
AC Milan is the latest in a long line of European football targets picked out by Chinese investors – and it won’t be the last.

On the football pitch, the Italians are known for a slow, tactical style that, while effective, can bore an opponent into submission.

Off the pitch, it may also be a similar story.

Continue reading AC Milan’s Chinese saga nears end as rumor mill grinds on →

Football

Suning’s Barca deal continues Chinese trend

2 Comments

Stories started to spread on Monday that Chinese home appliance chain Suning was set to buy a stake in Spanish megaclub Barcelona. If true, it would have blown news of Alibaba buying a 50% stake in Guangzhou Evergrande out of the water.

Barca Director General Antoni Rossich is flanked by Suning's EVP/GM Li Bin (L) and VP Sun Weiming (R)
Barca Director General Antoni Rossich is flanked by Suning’s EVP/GM Li Bin (L) and VP Sun Weiming (R)

Continue reading Suning’s Barca deal continues Chinese trend →

Chinese language, Football

中国男足需要努力才对得起球迷

Leave a comment

作为中国国家男子足球队的主教练，阿兰•佩林应该确保让他的球队度过一个忙碌的世界杯月份。除去备战对阵马其顿和马里的友谊赛之外，他应该带队员外出到当地的酒吧里，给他们买一些不含酒精的饮料，和他们一起坐到电视机前，尽可能多看几场世界杯比赛。

emirates_afc_china Continue reading 中国男足需要努力才对得起球迷 →

Football

Why Chinese players should be forced to watch the World Cup

Leave a comment

Alain Perrin, coach of the Chinese national men’s soccer team, should make sure his squad have a busy month. When they are not preparing for friendly games against Macedonia and Mali, he should take them out to the local bars, sit them down in front of the TV, buy them a nice non-­alcoholic beverage, and make them watch as many World Cup matches as possible.

s1.reutersmedia

Continue reading Why Chinese players should be forced to watch the World Cup →

Football

The Ma the merrier for Guangzhou Evergrande

5 Comments

Jack Ma is no idiot – he presides over a company that is set to go public at an estimated value of $152 billion dollars – but Evergrande looks to have got the better of the deal that sees Alibaba take a 50% stake in Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande for $192 million.

The drinking continues: Evergrande's Xu Jiayin and Alibaba's Jack Ma
The drinking continues: Evergrande’s Xu Jiayin and Alibaba’s Jack Ma

Continue reading The Ma the merrier for Guangzhou Evergrande →