China's Football Crisis: Corruption, Mismanagement, and the Fall of a Dream

The State of Chinese Football: A Broken Dream

The recent 7-0 thrashing of China’s national team by Japan in a World Cup qualifier was more than just a humiliating defeat—it was a symbol of a system in crisis. Ranked 90th in the FIFA world rankings, China’s men’s football team has become a laughingstock, trailing behind tiny nations like Curaçao and Luxembourg. The September 2023 loss was described as 'rock-bottom' by domestic media, but it was just the latest in a string of embarrassments, including defeats to Oman, Uzbekistan, and Hong Kong. Weeks later, corruption scandals exploded as dozens of players, coaches, and officials were arrested in a sweeping anti-graft probe.

Xi Jinping’s Football Ambitions vs. Reality

President Xi Jinping, an avid football fan, once dreamed of transforming China into a football superpower. His 'three wishes'—qualifying for the World Cup, hosting it, and eventually winning it—now seem like distant fantasies. Despite massive investments, political interference and bureaucratic mismanagement have suffocated the sport. In 2015, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) was supposed to gain autonomy, but instead, it remains tightly controlled by the Communist Party. The current CFA president, Song Cai, is also a Party deputy secretary—highlighting the entanglement of football and politics.

Why China’s Football Model Fails

• Lack of Grassroots Development: Unlike football powerhouses such as England or Brazil, China lacks a 'pyramid' of semi-professional and amateur clubs feeding talent upwards. With fewer than 100,000 registered players (compared to England’s 1.3 million), the talent pool is dangerously shallow.
• Political Meddling: Decisions are made by officials with little football expertise, prioritizing short-term political gains over long-term development.
• Corruption Scandals: Match-fixing, bribery, and fraud have become endemic. Former national team coach Li Tie was recently jailed for 20 years after admitting to paying bribes to secure his position.
• Economic Instability: The collapse of state-backed clubs like Jiangsu FC and Guangzhou Evergrande—once symbols of ambition—reflects broader financial woes in Chinese football.

The Glimmer of Hope: Women’s Football and Fan Passion

While the men’s team flounders, China’s women’s team (ranked 17th globally) remains a source of pride, earning the nickname 'the real national team.' Additionally, despite the failures, fan engagement remains strong—China’s Super League still boasts Asia’s highest average attendance.

Can China Fix Its Football Crisis?

Without systemic reforms—removing political interference, investing in youth academies, and cleaning up corruption—China’s football dreams will remain unfulfilled. As one fan bitterly joked after the Australia defeat: 'If China’s economy thrives, its football team must suffer for balance.'