Wanda returns to soccer with US$77m deal
Source: Xinhua |
July 4, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE founder of a once mighty Chinese soccer club, which quit the game following a disputed result, announced its return yesterday with sponsorship worth 500 million yuan (US$77 million).
Real estate giant Dalian Wanda has ridden to the rescue of an embattled sport that has witnessed two former soccer chiefs behind bars and the top league without a sponsor.
Wanda's three-year deal with the Chinese Football Association (CFA), signed at the Beijing Institute of Technology yesterday, covers sponsorship of the Chinese Super League (CSL), the Chinese youth league, and referee training and assessment.
It also includes an overseas program for teenage players, or "Future Star Program," and the hiring of a world-class foreign coach for the Chinese national team.
Wanda's side had a 55-game unbeaten record and won China's top league four times between 1994 and 1998 when it decided to withdraw from the Chinese league after controversially losing the 1998 CFA Cup semifinal.
Wanda President Wang Jianlin, who had vowed never to have anything to do with Chinese soccer, said his passion for the game never faltered.
"My love for soccer is still burning," he said yesterday.
The Chinese people loved "the beautiful game" and were eagerly expecting better performances by Chinese players, he said. "I want to do something to help the Chinese people realize their dreams."
Wang said a top official had met with him and encouraged him to return to the game.
Cai Zhenhua, a vice sports minister who oversees Chinese soccer, said at the signing ceremony that the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council "pay great attention to Chinese soccer" and it was a sacred responsibility to raise the level of the game.
Wanda, with assets estimated at 140 billion yuan through its ventures in commercial properties, luxury hotels, chain stores and tourism, is sponsoring the "Dalian Wanda Plaza CSL" for the next three years.
The CSL kicked off on April 1 without a sponsor or a national TV deal, and with senior officials facing trial over corruption.
Former Chinese soccer chief Nan Yong was arrested in January 2010 along with other officials after a bribery, match-fixing and gambling probe. Also facing trial is Nan's predecessor Xie Yalong, and scores of other leading club and association officials and referees.
Wanda is also to sponsor the Chinese national youth soccer league and the agreement also involves sending 20 young players a year to Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands to train.
Wanda will invite world-class trainers to China and launch workshops to train referees. The CFA will also raise a referee's payment from 2,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan per game.
Wanda is also to sponsor a coach for the Chinese national team. Names mentioned include Italian Marcello Lippi, Dutchmen Frank Rijkaard and Leo Beenhakker and German Jurgen Klinsmann.
Real estate giant Dalian Wanda has ridden to the rescue of an embattled sport that has witnessed two former soccer chiefs behind bars and the top league without a sponsor.
Wanda's three-year deal with the Chinese Football Association (CFA), signed at the Beijing Institute of Technology yesterday, covers sponsorship of the Chinese Super League (CSL), the Chinese youth league, and referee training and assessment.
It also includes an overseas program for teenage players, or "Future Star Program," and the hiring of a world-class foreign coach for the Chinese national team.
Wanda's side had a 55-game unbeaten record and won China's top league four times between 1994 and 1998 when it decided to withdraw from the Chinese league after controversially losing the 1998 CFA Cup semifinal.
Wanda President Wang Jianlin, who had vowed never to have anything to do with Chinese soccer, said his passion for the game never faltered.
"My love for soccer is still burning," he said yesterday.
The Chinese people loved "the beautiful game" and were eagerly expecting better performances by Chinese players, he said. "I want to do something to help the Chinese people realize their dreams."
Wang said a top official had met with him and encouraged him to return to the game.
Cai Zhenhua, a vice sports minister who oversees Chinese soccer, said at the signing ceremony that the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council "pay great attention to Chinese soccer" and it was a sacred responsibility to raise the level of the game.
Wanda, with assets estimated at 140 billion yuan through its ventures in commercial properties, luxury hotels, chain stores and tourism, is sponsoring the "Dalian Wanda Plaza CSL" for the next three years.
The CSL kicked off on April 1 without a sponsor or a national TV deal, and with senior officials facing trial over corruption.
Former Chinese soccer chief Nan Yong was arrested in January 2010 along with other officials after a bribery, match-fixing and gambling probe. Also facing trial is Nan's predecessor Xie Yalong, and scores of other leading club and association officials and referees.
Wanda is also to sponsor the Chinese national youth soccer league and the agreement also involves sending 20 young players a year to Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands to train.
Wanda will invite world-class trainers to China and launch workshops to train referees. The CFA will also raise a referee's payment from 2,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan per game.
Wanda is also to sponsor a coach for the Chinese national team. Names mentioned include Italian Marcello Lippi, Dutchmen Frank Rijkaard and Leo Beenhakker and German Jurgen Klinsmann.
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