November 9 – Premier League Tottenham Hotspur have expanded their charitable activity in China with Jaguar Land Rover China with the addition of a hook-up with the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation. The new partnership is seeking to strengthen ties between British and Chinese children through a shared passion for football.
November 4 – LaLiga has announced a three year sponsorship with the Hacienda y Viñedos Marques del Atrio winery that sees the Marques del Atrio brand as the league’s official wine partner across its three divisions.
November 4 – Andre Villas-Boas has been named manager of Chinese Super League team Shanghai SIPG in succession to former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson who has left after two years in charge.
By Paul Nicholson
November 3 – Saints could soon be marching in to a Chinese tune. The Premier League club are in exclusive negotiation with Lander Sports Development Co. of China though there seems to be some readjustment over valuation of the club.
October 24 – In its determination to become a serious force on the world football stage, China have appointed Italy’s World Cup-winning manager Marcello Lippi to become its new national coach.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 3 – Western criticism of China’s human rights record will not dissuade the country from pressing ahead with its bid to host the World Cup.
When Xi Jinping, the leader of the Chinese government, allowed Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero to take a selfie with him and David Cameron last year, the message was loud and clear: China loves football.
By Paul Nicholson
August 24 – Chinese conglomerate Everbright’s offer for Premier League Liverpool is real and in discussion, sources close to the firm have told Insideworldfootball. Reports earlier to day in the Asian business press that Everbright knew nothing of the proposal are wrong, and the proposed £800 million acquisition is very much alive.
August 16 – City Football Group (CFG), owner of Manchester City, has committed to funding a Special Olympics project in Beijing, China, for the next three years.
August 5 – West Bromwich Albion are the latest English side to fall into the hands of ambitious Chinese owners following the acquisitions of neighbouring Midlands clubs Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
By Nan Sato, Shimin Law
The Communist government in China has long had an uncomfortable relationship with gambling, but the mounting interest in sports betting may make the country’s leaders rethink some of its policies.
By Paul Nicholson
July 25 – The pre-season game between Manchester United and Manchester City in China, the first ever meeting of the two clubs outside England, has been called off after heavy rain has left the famous Bird’s Nest stadium pitch in Beijing unplayable.
July 20 – Manchester United, in China for pre-season matches against Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City as part of the International Champions Cup, have taken the opportunity to reinforce both their commitment to China and to new sponsor partner Gulf Oil, at an event in Shanghai.
By Andrew Warshaw
July 14 – China’s emerging influence in world football has taken yet another decisive step with the news that real estate, entertainment and sports conglomerate Wanda has struck a deal with FIFA to host an annual ‘China Cup’ tournament starting next year featuring its national team plus three other as yet unannounced international sides.
July 7 – Manchester City, hard on the heels of its Cityzens weekend and the launch of various digital initiatives has now turned its attention back to China where it has extended its relationship with specialist business development company, Zhong An Holdings.