A little over a month after the curtain was brought down on the 2018 Chinese Super League, clubs from across the world's most populous country flocked to Shanghai where the 2018 Chinese clubs finance management international seminar was held. Initiated and organised by CFA (Chinese Football Association), this event was aimed at improving the clubs' management at the finance level and enhancing CFA's regulations and guidance in finance to achieve sustainable development.

The seminar, which ran from 18-19 December, attracted over 180 representatives including managerial staff from over 60 clubs of three top visions of China, administrators of CFA departments of league organisation, entry control body and club licensing as well as officials of AFC(Asian Football Association), experts from Ligue de Football Professionnel, Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional and Italian Football Federation and Tokyo FC.

Mr Du Zhaocai, vice sports minister and CFA acting president

The event marked the second edition of its kind, with the "Chinese clubs financial risks control international seminar" having been inaugurated at the end of last year. It came as the testament to the Chinese clubs' joint efforts in implementing the national strategy of "China's football reform and development scheme" as Mr Du Zhaocai, vice sports minister and CFA acting president, stated.

"As the trail-blazers for China's football development, the Chinese professional leagues have played the key role since the scheme was announced three years ago," said Du. "They are the core resources of our country's football industry and they provide the stage for the youth talents to emerge and develop. Therefore, it is important for our clubs to improve their finance management in order to achieve healthy development."

With the increasing popularity of C-League, clubs have vied against each other in spending in order to gain success. A series of finance problems emerged with clubs struggling to make ends meet while the players' transfer fees and salaries remain to grow. These are the areas where Chinese clubs should learn from their foreign counterparts according to Du.

"We hope our clubs will improve their finance management through studying the cases of those successful foreign clubs and instilling the updating know-how. This will help them establish their own financial systems."

Mr Liu Chi, Chairperson of AFC Entry Control Body

AFC have long been the strong supporter for its member associations in terms of reform and development and it came as no exception this time around. A couple of officials, Mr Liu Chi, Chairperson of AFC Entry Control Body and Mr Mahajan Vasudevan Nair, head of AFC Club Licensing were present at the seminar to lend their expertise.

Mr. Mahajan Vasudevan Nair，Head of Club Licensing, AFC

"When it comes to the clubs' expenditure, China are ranked the first globally," said the latter. "This is indeed a topic worth our discussion and analysis. Finance management is very important for AFC. Because only fine management of finance can bring about good professional football."

A series of experts shared their experiences during the two-day seminar. Mr Lars Ricken from Borussia Dortmund shed light on how to deal with financial problems in transfers, while James Johnson, Director of External Affairs of City Football Group, provided his insights for international transfers.

To achieve the finance management goals, CFA unveiled a series of new policies to curb the clubs' growing expenditures in the recent 2018 Chinese Super League Summary Meeting. Salary caps, clubs expense limitations and winning-match-bonus ceilings, all of which are aimed at helping clubs shrug off finance difficulties, will take effect in the next season. Adding to that, stricter measures will be taken to deal with dual contracts to avoid tax evasion. Meanwhile, clubs will be encouraged to increase investment in youth development.

"Our aims are to set up a series of suitable rules in finance supervision," Du summed up. "So these will provide the driving-force for our high-quality and high-speed development. We should learn from the successful experiences from foreign clubs and our local football associations and clubs should enhance the cooperation and communication as we aim to lift our finance management to a new level."

(edit：张素琦)