Chinese Football Association Mulls Stricter Rules to Promote Young Players

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) is currently considering the imposition of stricter rules to promote young talent, as part of its plans to develop the country's footballing landscape as the new Chinese Super League season starts on March 4.

Such follows the restrictions on foreign players introduced last January, which aims to set a level playing field among China's top league clubs amid the signing frenzy that saw the high-profile entry of European talents for exorbitant transfer fees and salaries, Yibada reported.

With the aim to eventually qualify for the 2024 World Cup, the CFA has stressed its intent to develop under-23 Chinese players by requiring clubs to include at least two of such players during league match days and field at least one in the starting XI, China Daily said.

Violating clubs are set to receive a penalty in the form of a default 3-0 loss to the opposition. The CFA justifies such move amid fears that foreign signings, the most prominent being the likes of Carlos Tevez, Oscar, and Alex Witsel, would hamper the development of young local talent.

Previously, the CFA has allotted 670 million yuan for the development of comprehensive footballing projects throughout China, in a bid to make the country a respected power in football. The governing body plans to allot 64 million yuan for youth training.

With the CFA undergoing a comprehensive planning scheme on its budget for the development of Chinese football, it would not be far-fetched to conceive of China as a formidable footballing force moving forward. But it would be equally unsurprising for positive results to become elusive with shortcuts.

The move to promote youngsters in Chinese football threatens to create a bubble borne out of Chinese clubs' shift in investment from foreign talent to emerging local names. Such may cause undue pressure on young Chinese players and may prove to be a financial risk when it backfires.