A new campaign was launched by the CFA in order to study the guiding principles of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, implement the important guidelines given by President Xi Jiping regarding to the football work, carry out the Overall Plan for China’s Football Reform and Development, strengthen sportsmanship and discipline of China’s football teams, enhance professionalism of China’s football community and football culture, regulate industry practices, improve the public image of Chinese football, and promote healthy and sustainable development of China’s football league. On May 22, 2018 the CFA inaugurated the China’s football league culture discussion and cultivation event at Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC.

The event was attended by Li Yuyi, Executive Deputy Director of the Inter-Ministerial Joint Conference Office on Football Reform and Development of the State Council and CFA Vice President, Zhao Lei, the professor and doctoral advisor of International Strategy Research Institute of Party School of the Central Committee of CPC, Zhu Guanghu, the president of Shanghai Football Association, Wu Xiaohun, the general manager of Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC, the representatives of member units of the Inter-Ministerial Joint Conference Office on Football Reform and Development of the State Council, and all the first team and reserve team coaches and players of Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC. The event was chaired by CFA Super League Department director Chen Yongliang.

Li Yuyi made three suggestions for the culture development campaign in the Super League (CSL) clubs. First, we need to fully understand the importance of strengthening professional football culture. Since China’s football leagues kicked off this year, the CFA has seen promising results of tightening league regulation. The competition becomes increasingly fierce. The actual competing time in a tournament increases. More people have been attracted by competitions. The sportsmanship and discipline have been largely improved. Thanks to the efforts, we are clearly aware that China’s football league needs cultural support in order to emerge as a leading league in Asia. Meanwhile, the league culture development campaign helps fostering a positive football culture in our society and pursuing our football dream and Chinese dream. Secondly, we need to fully understand the nature of league culture and the new demand of the football league reform and development in the new era so as to develop league culture in four aspects: creating cultural products to meet the demands of the public, shaping a football image in line with the development needs, turning football into a necessary vehicle for China’s development, shaping the core values of Chinese professional football. Thirdly, we need to help China’s league clubs improve football culture. Starting with the most pressing problems of sportsmanship and discipline in our league matches, we should improve the league culture while carrying out the culture campaign and focusing on the long-term objectives of the cultural development. Gradually correct social values will be shaped and a healthy and positive league culture environment will be built with out joint efforts.

Li stressed that while China’s league clubs develop their team culture, they need to further study the guiding principles of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, understand Secretary General Xi’s thought on football development, deepen their understanding in football culture, sportsmanship and discipline, competition regulation and professional integrity. Furthermore, they need to step up their managing capability, explore the ways to shape league culture, come through and draw complete management regulations, establish a sportsmanship and discipline accountability system, help each player map out his/her career and life plan, lead them to fulfill their career ambitions, sharpen their skills, shoulder their responsibilities so that they take the initiative to pursue their football dreams in the new era.

Li concluded the event that 2018 kicks off our efforts to put all the guiding principles from the Party’s 19th National Congress into action, and marks the 25th league season since the reform of the Chinese professional football and the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. We must make the best use of the China’s football reform and development, strengthen club development and the league culture campaign, make joint efforts to improve the China’s football league culture.

After the inauguration, Zhao Lei, the professor and doctoral advisor of International Strategy Research Institute of Party School of the Central Committee of CPC, gave a keynote speech themed The Soft Power and Competing Edge of Football Culture to the first and reserve team coaches and players of Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC. It will take about 100 days for experts invited to the culture discussion giving themed lecture regarding football culture, sportsmanship and discipline, competition regulations, integrity building to 60 teams of CSL, League One and League Two. Through the four stages of learning, discussion, self-regulation and conclusion, the event aims at helping players, coaches and other professional football practitioners improve their professional and cultural quality, building a positive football league image, and develop the Chinese football league into a leading league. The next stop of the 2018 China’s football culture development campaign is Shanghai Sunfun FC base and Zhejiang Yiteng FC base from May 23 to 24.

(edit：李鑫)