On the Bench

The Ping’an Chinese Super League (CSL) has returned, and kicked off on 2nd March. This new season brings 15 teams the challenge of dethroning Guangzhou Evergrande, after their winning of seven consecutive titles. Shanghai, Hebei, Tianjin and possibly our...

Chinese investment in football is known worldwide for the huge salaries and offers made to bring well recognised players to their local leagues, and also of its Government’s ambitious project to make Chinese football a serious competitor for the...

In October, MediaPro Exhibitions, Phoenix Group, and Leo Messi Management announced their plans to invest ¥1.3 billion in the design, development, and construction of a football theme park, based on the famous Argentinian player Lionel Messi. ...

Football leagues worldwide feverishly compete in what we can call “special matches”, better known as derbies, ones that generate big discussion among fans days before and after. Supporters consider these as tournaments in themselves. Sometimes borne...

The first Women’s Football World Cup (WWC) ever held was, believe it or not, hosted by China. Twelve countries participated in the 1991 WWC event that effectively changed the history of women’s football. Seven World Cups...

In 2004, FIFA recognised China as the birthplace of football; Zibo, in Shandong province in fact, where a sport named Cuju has been played since the 3rd century BCE; one with a ball and hands not permitted. Nowadays, there...