Recently, the big moves of the Chinese Super League and the Chinese League have caused heated discussions among us ordinary fans. At the beginning of the new year, the Chinese Super League announced the addition of a foreign player appearance, what does this mean for our league?
First, let's take a look at the specific policy changes. The "7654 policy" of the Chinese Super League was upgraded to the "7655 policy", while the "7332" of the Chinese Super League was changed from "4332" to "4333". It may sound like a small change in numbers, but it actually reflects the deep thinking and challenges of Chinese professional football.
On the one hand, this policy change is due to the decline in the quality of the league and the poor AFC Champions League results in recent years. We all know that the level of a league depends not only on local players, but also on the quality of foreign players. Increasing the number of foreign aid places can theoretically attract more high-level foreign aid to join and improve the spectacle and competitive level of the game.
But this policy has also caused a lot of controversy. Some are concerned that the increase in foreign signings could squeeze the survival space of homegrown players. We have seen football leagues in other countries, such as Japan and South Korea, where the increase in foreign players has not affected the talent pool of the national team. In fact, the real problem may not be the amount of foreign players, but our own football development system and the playing environment.
On the other hand, the AFC's policy changes are also forcing us to adjust. Starting from the 2024 25 season, the AFC will remove the restriction on the number of foreign aid registrations, and the major Asian leagues are adjusting accordingly. For example, the Saudi league, the South Korean K-League and the Thai Super League, they are all increasing the number of foreign players. This also means that if the Chinese Super League does not follow up, our league may be at a disadvantage in international competition.
However, increasing foreign players does not mean that the development of local players can be neglected. China's young players should see this as an opportunity to learn and improve, rather than being passive victims. What we need is a more balanced development strategy that attracts high-level foreign players and ensures that local players have room to grow.
In closing, I would like to say that the professional league does not exist just to send talent to the national team. The charm of the league lies in its diversity and competitiveness, and this is exactly what an increase in foreign players can bring. As fans, we want to see a great game rather than a league that just serves the national team.
Overall, the adjustment of foreign aid policies is both a challenge and an opportunity. We look forward to the new policy to bring new vitality to the league, and we also hope to see local players continue to grow and break through in the process. Let's wait and see how this change will affect the future of Chinese football!