Hong Kong FA eyes Chinese Super League

The Hong Kong Football Association will discuss the possibility of sending teams to play in Chinese competitions as they hope to take advantage of a surge in soccer investment on the mainland.

Chinese Super League clubs have made several ambitious deals in recent weeks, with Jiangsu Suning shelling a Chinese record 50 million euros ($56.3 million) for Brazil midfielder Alex Teixeira after Colombian striker Jackson Martinez joined Guangzhou Evergrande for 42 million euros.

While the buying power of the Chinese clubs appeared to surprise many European commentators and pundits, HKFA chief executive Mark Sutcliffe is keen to see his clubs profit from the upsurge in interest.

"It would be stupid not to at least consider how HK football can benefit from these developments," Sutcliffe was quoted as saying by Saturday's South China Morning Post.

"This will include revisiting the possibility of taking part in some of their competitions."

Sutcliffe said it was important that any moves to play in China would not affect Hong Kong's football autonomy, while the report suggested competing in the Chinese FA or League Cups were more likely than Super League participation.

Source: Reuters