As reported by Sina, the CFA (Chinese Football Association) has approved the budget plan for national youth football training in 2017. According to this plan, the CFA will invest about RMB 90 million on youth football training, an increase of 200% compared to RMB 30 million in 2016.

According to the CFA budget plan, large regional football leagues (weekly youth football matches), scheduled to start in 2017, is estimated to cost RMB 50-60 million. This includes the expense of holding the games, the expense of transport and accommodation for visiting teams, the expense of referees and so on.

The budget also includes the likes of holding national finals of the regional leagues (played over two legs home and away), trials to select backup players, training for leagues' teams and training for national representative teams.

About RMB 30 million will be used for a U12 football festival, a series of matches from U13 to U20, championships at U14, U15, U16 and U18 levels, training camps for each age group etc.

The CFA has indicated that the budget for youth football development doesn’t include the expenses of the national football teams, which have their own budgets.

Source: Sina

Proofread by Sean O Diobhilin

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