Li Yi: Overseas Training Won’t Solve China’s Football Problems; Players’ Incomes Should Be Raised

Recently, former national team player Dong Fangzhuo and Li Yi co-starred in a talk show. During the program, Li Yi and host Yang Yi discussed the current issues facing Chinese football.

Yang Yi stated, “The current approach (in Chinese football) is to suppress athletes’ salaries, thereby forcing these athletes, especially young athletes, to overcome their laziness. If they have the opportunity, send them overseas, to Europe, whether it be to the top five leagues or second-tier European leagues, to hone their skills in that environment.”

Li Yi, however, had differing views, saying, “I don’t think this method necessarily solves the real problems. I believe that now is the time to raise the income levels of these football players. However, there needs to be a balance; it should not return to the excesses of the golden yuan era. The previous situation was chaotic, but now salaries are too low.

This low wage environment naturally leads to fewer people willing to choose (football as a career). When parents see their children, who may have real talent for the game at around sixth grade, when they can actually play, and have to make a choice, they will undoubtedly opt for academics 100%, because the future in football is uncertain.

Many say we cannot select 11 starters (for the national team) from our population of over a billion. But among those billions, how many are actually playing football, truly engaged in professional play? How many parents are willing to send their children to professional teams or let them pursue a career in football, given the high dropout rate?”