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SCMP Reporter

Alipay, the payment platform owned by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, has promised to invest 1 billion yuan in women’s football over the next decade.
The fund was inspired by the performance of the Chinese women’s national team at the Fifa Women’s World Cup in France, where the “Steel Roses” reached the last 16.
It was reported in Chinese media last year that Alibaba founder Jack Ma had come up with a plan to sponsor the women’s team after visiting them at the Asian Games in Indonesia, where they finished runners-up.
The unprecedented donation to the Chinese Football Association was announced at the firm’s Hangzhou headquarters on Friday.

The money will come from the Alipay Foundation, the firm’s charitable arm, along with the foundations of Jack Ma and Joe Tsai, the Alibaba co-founder.
The funds will be managed by the three foundations and the Chinese FA.

Investment will focus on four key areas: the women’s national team, technical development and youth development, along with the broad scope of injury prevention, treatment and the careers of retired players.
Cai Yong of the Chinese FA expressed their gratitude at the fund and promised to raise the salaries of women players and improve the standard of training facilities.
Alipay already had a two-year agreement to support girls’ football in Hainan, something that Eric Jing of Ant Financial, the operator of Alipay, said has “opened doors for them to more life options and opportunities”.

“This has strengthened our determination to expand our support and enable more development and innovation in women’s and girls’ football in China,” he added.
Alipay signed a global partnership with Uefa last year, which will include sponsorship of both Euro 2020 and Euro 2024. They also sponsored the recent Uefa Nations League final in Portugal, presenting Cristiano Ronaldo with the Alipay Top Scorer Trophy.
Alibaba is also the minority owner of Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super League.
Alibaba is the owner of the South China Morning Post.


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China's defender Haiyan Wu celebrates after playing Spain in the Fifa Women’s World Cup. Photo: AFP

(190626) -- MONTPELLIER, June 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Wang Shuang (R) of China competes during the round of 16 match between China and Italy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, June 25, 2019. China lost 0-2. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

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(190626) -- MONTPELLIER, June 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- (From L to R) China's head coach Jia Xiuquan, players Wu Haiyan, Han Peng, Wang Shuang and Wang Shanshan cheer before the round of 16 match between China and Italy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, June 25, 2019. China lost 0-2. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)

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FILE PHOTO - Britain Football Soccer - Derby County v Leicester City - FA Cup Fourth Round - Pride Park - 27/1/17 Referee Mark Clattenburg Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic/File Photo EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Australian referee Kate Jacewicz blows a whistle during the France 2019 Women's World Cup round of sixteen football match between Sweden and Canada, on June 24, 2019, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON / AFP)

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(190625) -- REIMS (FRANCE), June 25, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian referee Katalin Kulcsar gestures for a VAR review of a possible foul during the round of 16 match between the United States and Spain at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Reims, France, on June 24, 2019. The United States won 2-1. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Sport

China

Promise of 1 billion yuan over the next decade to make game more accessible
Move backed by charitable foundations of Jack Ma and Joe Tsai is welcomed by CFA


Move backed by charitable foundations of Jack Ma and Joe Tsai is welcomed by CFA


Jack Ma

Fifa Women's World Cup

Chinese Football Association (CFA)

Alibaba invests US$145 million in Chinese women’s football after Fifa Women’s World Cup showing

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Promise of 1 billion yuan over the next decade to make game more accessible Move backed by charitable foundations of Jack Ma and Joe Tsai is welcomed by CFA

Promise of 1 billion yuan over the next decade to make game more accessible

Move backed by charitable foundations of Jack Ma and Joe Tsai is welcomed by CFA