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Have shock new rules on foreign players burst Chinese football’s transfer bubble?
Chinese Football Association confirms tough new restriction on overseas players, in a sign that government has had enough
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The Chinese Football Association has imposed surprise new rules on the number of foreign players allowed in the Chinese Super League, just weeks before the new season begins – and midway through a transfer window in which top clubs have already shelled out massive sums of money on overseas stars.
And in a further sign that government authorities have decided enough is enough in China’s wild football market, the CFA said it would introduce “a series of measures and initiatives to regulate the operation and management of clubs” after recent “irrational investment”.
The CFA had previously consulted with clubs over limiting the number of foreigners, but the shock announcement was tougher than expected, and caught clubs by surprise.
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In recent weeks, state media has issued increasingly strident criticism of clubs’ spending, which this month has seen the likes of top players Oscar, Axel Witsel and Carlos Tevez move to China for reported weekly salaries of between €300,000 to €800,000.
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The CFA confirmed that in the coming season clubs will only be allowed to field three foreigners per match.
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