Here are the top China sports business news stories you need to know from this week:
FIFA Signs Development Deal with CFA World football’s governing body FIFA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) to boost the development of football in the country. The MoU will see FIFA work with the CFA to enhance football structures, management and technical aspects related to football in China. The agreement focuses on five key areas: governance structure of the CFA, technical development at all levels, refereeing, professionalisation of football and event management. Read more on FIFA (English) and Xinhua (Chinese)
Wanda to Invest $297 million in Chinese Football Chinese multinational conglomerate, the Wanda Group, plans to invest RMB 2 billion ($297 million) in the development of football in China. As part of the investment, Wanda plans to build 23 football pitches and training fields in the city of Dalian. The facilities, which will reportedly open in December, will accommodate up to 600 players and coaches. Read more on SportsPro (English) and Xinjing (Chinese)
Mailman Take: Since selling its 17 percent stake in Spanish football club Atlético Madrid last year, Wanda has been investing its money much closer to home. Putting money into grassroots plays well with the Chinese government, and as a top-level sponsor of FIFA, Wanda is positioning itself strategically for when a FIFA World Cup eventually comes to China.
Emlyon Business School Asia & Mailman Sign Memorandum of Understanding Mailman, a global sports digital marketing agency headquartered in Shanghai, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Emlyon Business School Asia, a subsidiary of the leading French business school. The scope of the MoU will allow both sides to engage in mutually beneficial, value-adding activities. Read more on Soccerex (English) and emlyon (Chinese)
Shanghai Sharks Acquired by Shanghai Jiushi Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) club Shanghai Sharks has reportedly been purchased by Shanghai Jiushi Group and approved by the CBA board at a recent meeting. The acquisition is estimated at around RMB 500 - 600 million. Read more on iFeng (Chinese)
Mailman Take: After taking over in 2009, basketball legend Yao Ming has brought the Sharks back to prominence by qualifying for the playoffs in the last three seasons. However, serving as president and chairman of the CBA, while owning a league team, has led to talks of a conflict of interest. A lack of a profitable business and stable financial support made it harder for Yao to keep investing and growing the club. Yao can now focus solely on the league and not have to worry about his own financial status.
DAZN to Stream English Premier League on Huawei Devices in Spain Global over-the-top (OTT) media company DAZN has agreed a three-year partnership with Huawei to distribute a large amount of its Spanish sports rights on the Chinese technology giant’s mobile platforms. Read more on SportsPro (English) In Other News:
Fabio Cannavaro Quits China Former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has quit as head coach of the China national team after just six weeks in charge. He took charge of 2 games, both losses: 1-0 defeats against Thailand and Uzbekistan in the China Cup. Read more on Sky Sports (English) and SIna (Chinese) -- Now you can subscribe to our China Sports Business Weekly brief and have it delivered directly to you, wherever you are. Mailman is a global sports digital agency and marketing platform. We help global rights holders, athletes and brands build a successful business across China, Europe and Southeast Asia. Learn more about our story here
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