The English Premier League said Thursday it has officially opened an international office in Beijing in an effort to support the growth of the league and its clubs in China.
The office will help create more opportunities for fans in China to engage with the Premier League and clubs, it said, while also enabling the Premier League to collaborate with local football authorities and partners to promote the growth of the game at all levels.
To mark the office opening, the Premier League, in partnership with the British Council, this week delivered a grassroots coach development course for 35 community football coaches from different regions in China. Led by Premier League coaches from Leicester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, the four-day course provided theory and practical training to equip coaches with the confidence and skills to deliver football sessions in their provinces.
The Premier League also revealed it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreement with the Chinese Football Association for the two organizations to collaborate on the delivery of programs and activities to support the elite development of players, coaches and match officials, as well as training for grassroots coaches and referees.
“We and our clubs have an incredible fanbase in China and opening an office in Beijing marks an exciting step as we continue to build on our popularity and strengthen our relationships with fans and partners,” said Premier League CEO Richard Masters
“We also understand the importance of developing football locally and we will be continuing our longstanding work with local football organisations to promote the growth of the game. Having a permanent base in China will help us to work closely with our partners and develop even more opportunities to bring Premier League excitement to fans in the region.”
The Premier League said its collaboration with the Chinese FA will include the delivery of an elite international coach development program with study visits for Chinese football coaches to spend time with Premier League clubs. Other activities will include a youth tournament and grassroots development courses.
The new Beijing office follows the launch of the Premier League’s first international office in Singapore in 2019, which was followed by the opening of an office in New York last year.
China’s domestic football league has faced a litany of problems in recent years, criticized for spending big on attracting big international names while failing to invest adequately in youth development. The widening gap between Chinese football and its Asian neighbors was laid bare last month when the national team was thrashed 7-0 by Japan.
In September, the Chinese Football Association also banned for life 43 people for alleged match-fixing and corruption.
Despite this, international football remains hugely popular in China and is said to account for around half of the world’s illegal sports betting turnover each year, of which football comprises a substantial percentage.
