100 million—new threshold for CSL clubs

Guangzhou Evergrande signed Goulart and Alan by spending 110 million RMB and 82 million RMB respectively,while Chongqing Lifan is going to sell the club for 10-20 million only. Matthew effect in CSL becomes more obvious.

“From million to hundreds of million”

China football league started in 1994.In that age, a club investment for a year was less than 10 million RMB.But by the last year,even the team which degraded—Dalian Arbin also spent 160 million RMB for the whole season.

“100 million era” does not mean the gross cost is over 100 million,because the club could have revenue and benefit from some channels.However in clubs in CSL,they almost could not gain any profit from football.Most of the clubs are relying on the money from investors.Box office is stagnant,the clothes do not sell well,no more sponsorship and partenership,even no much money for broadcasting.It seems that the mode is unsustainable.

Clubs to make the ends meet

In CSL,more than 60% of the teams are sponsored by real estate.In 2014,real estate just passed the golden age,therefore could not afford to spent more money in football.

Even in Europe,the UEFA has enacted the Financial Fair Play,to control the cost of clubs.The clubs like Man city,Real Madrid have to care more about their budget from that.

That is the example CSL could learn from.A league has to be run stable financially,then it would be successful.