China to reduce govt's role in soccer

China's main governing body for soccer will be separated from the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC), the government agency responsible for sports in China, a move to reduce the administrative power of GASC over soccer management, Guangzhou-based Soccer News said.

Officials from the Chinese Football Association (CFA) were called together last week in a closed meeting to discuss a new management mode for the Chinese national team, the report said. CAF officials said that administrative pressure from their former supervisors puts Chinese soccer in constant decline, and it played a role in the team's humiliating 5-1 loss to the second-string Thai squad in a friendly match last month.

In a rare move, the State Administration of Taxation called for discussions with CAF and the Chinese Football Association Super League Corp on Wednesday. The meeting was viewed as a sign that Chinese soccer may get improved conditions from authorities, such as taxation, industry and commerce departments.

Chinese soccer clubs and soccer match organizers pay high taxes. Clubs pay 45 percent of players’salaries in taxes, and organizers pay taxes about 30 percent of the money they spend on bringing foreign soccer stars to play with Chinese teams.

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