Black and White Football: Reflections on China's Football Issues

Author: Liu Guangying
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The author's deep reflections on China's football issues shine through with rare rationality and wisdom in such a Chinese football scene. The author maintains a balanced stance, uses a calm tone, yet points directly at the core and essence of the problems with sharp insight. The solutions proposed are practical and feasible. The author's reflections stem from football management practices and personal experiences, thus touching the root of the contradictions. At the same time, the book presents systematic and comprehensive theoretical thinking, making its ideas strong, dialectical yet not extreme, reflective yet not accusatory, inclusive yet not exclusive. The book discusses many key issues in Chinese football. For example, Chinese football must firmly take the path of professionalization and marketization. However, our football management system has never resolved the issue of government replacing enterprises. Football investors do not treat football as an industry but primarily as a means of corporate brand management and a strategy to seek government and social support. Another example is that the author tries to help readers clearly understand the reality of Chinese football. The author believes that Chinese football is currently in a transitional period from government-supported "enterprise teams" to enterprise-backed clubs. All work during this period should revolve around the construction of three major systems: the market system centered on professional leagues, the football talent cultivation system centered on youth, and the football culture system centered on professional ethics. The book covers a wide range of topics, from the understanding of the football industry and the domestic and international football environment, to football management systems, contradictions, and problems, and then to the industrialization, marketization, and professionalization of football, all interconnected. Football is a sport full of passion, so the book also carries a strong emotional tone, with a surge of passion flowing through the text. The author points out: "Passion is the exchange and interaction of emotions between players and fans. The outstanding performance of players inspires fans, and the sincere enthusiasm of fans motivates players. The mutual inspiration and motivation turn the match into a grand evening of ups and downs and continuous climaxes."