Jiangsu Suning players celebrate with the Chinese Super League trophy after winning the 2020 title. The club is one of many who will need to change their name to drop their corporate sponsor. Photo: Xinhua Jiangsu Suning players celebrate with the Chinese Super League trophy after winning the 2020 title. The club is one of many who will need to change their name to drop their corporate sponsor. Photo: Xinhua
Jiangsu Suning players celebrate with the Chinese Super League trophy after winning the 2020 title. The club is one of many who will need to change their name to drop their corporate sponsor. Photo: Xinhua
Jonathan White
Opinion

Opinion

The East Stand by Jonathan White

Chinese Super League club name change rule missing the bigger picture

  • New rule banning sponsors from club names risks seeing financial support flood out of the domestic game
  • While it is well-meaning, ‘neutral’ names are not the top priority for football in the country and risks angering fans

Jonathan White
Jonathan White

Updated: 1:41pm, 7 Dec, 2020

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Jiangsu Suning players celebrate with the Chinese Super League trophy after winning the 2020 title. The club is one of many who will need to change their name to drop their corporate sponsor. Photo: Xinhua Jiangsu Suning players celebrate with the Chinese Super League trophy after winning the 2020 title. The club is one of many who will need to change their name to drop their corporate sponsor. Photo: Xinhua
Jiangsu Suning players celebrate with the Chinese Super League trophy after winning the 2020 title. The club is one of many who will need to change their name to drop their corporate sponsor. Photo: Xinhua
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Jonathan White

Jonathan White

Jonathan White joined the Post in 2017 after a decade reporting on sport from China. He originally moved to Beijing to coach football in 2007 and later spent two years in Shanghai.