BEIJING -- A reform plan to boost the overall development of soccer in China has been issued by the State Council General Office. The plan lists a range of goals over a long time-frame.
In the short-term, the focus will be on changing China's sports management system.
The plan calls for the Chinese Football Association to terminate its affiliation with the General Administration of Sport of China and become independent from the government's administrative structure.
Medium-term goals include developing the Chinese Super League into one of the top domestic circuits in the region, and raising the men's national team to become one of Asia's leading powers, ranking among the world's more prominent squads.
On the women's side, the plan calls for the national team's return to a world-class level. And in the long-term, China will look to bid to host the FIFA World Cup, and have the men's national team qualify for both the World Cup and the Olympics.
