Coronavirus: Chinese Super League set to start in late June as pandemic situation improves, reports say

Group stage competition is proposed, giving Chinese Football Association more flexibility, while accommodating AFC Champions League and 2022 World Cup qualifying

But Covid-19 crisis claims Tianjin Tianhai, who are dissolved because of financial problems, with relegated Shenzhen FC now likely to stay in top flight

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Shanghai SIPG players in their first public training session for the new season following the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:44pm, 13 May 2020Updated: 10:23pm, 13 May 2020

The Chinese Super League will start in June at the earliest with teams competing in two groups as the initial stage, reports in the mainland said.

The 2020 season, featuring 16 teams including defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande, was due to kick off in February but has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the Chinese Football Association is keen to resume competition next month or in early July now the situation is improving, according to reports in Beijing Youth Daily, and has already submitted the plan to the State General Administration of Sport for approval. The new season also features Chinese League One, Chinese FA Cup, a Second Division and the women’s competition.

With a shortened season that will finish in November, the CFA plans to introduce a two-group stage competition for the CSL, instead of the usual home-and-away format. There will be no change in League One and the Second Division, while CSL clubs will be introduced to the FA Cup as late as possible.

Guangzhou Evergrande players celebrate another CSL championship title after beating Shanghai Shenhua in their last match of the 2019 season. Photo: Xinhua

The 16 CSL teams will be divided into two groups, with the top four in each group then competing in the “championship” group, with the remaining eight in the “relegation” group. There will be 14 rounds of competition for each team (home and away) in the first stage. The second stage will be conducted in an elimination format, with three rounds of competition until the 2020 championship is decided.

“This will give us more flexibility facing a shortened season, while we still have to accommodate the AFC Champions League and the 2022 World Cup qualifying second round,” the Youth Daily said, quoting a CFA source. “Of course, we still have to listen to the clubs for this new format, especially with the second round being an elimination format.

“But all matches will be conducted in safe conditions in accordance with the pandemic control requirements as requested by the government.”