So it’s time for a bit of that David Beckham magic.
The Chinese love their soccer, but the game in the world’s most populous nation has suffered badly from rampant bribery, shoddy on-field performances by the national team, match-fixing. And corrupt referees known as “black whistles” don’t help either.
Beckham is a legend in football-crazy China, and is among the most recognised of all foreign stars.
A few years ago Beckham’s image was used, without his permission of course, to sell a Chinese own-brand potency medicine.
“I’m excited by the prospect of promoting the world’s greatest game to Chinese sports fans as I’ve seen first-hand the growing interest in football there,” said Beckham, who was linked with a move to play in the Chinese Super League after leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy in December, but moved to Paris St Germain (PSG).
“This is a wonderful sport that inspires people across the world and brings families together, so I’m relishing the opportunity of introducing more fans to the game,” he said.
Many fans in China have switched to basketball, or focus on football from overseas, and it is hoped that Beckham’s arrival will change that.
Beckham has agreed to play in a team against China’s best players in November, five months after his current contract with PSG expires. If a new PSG deal is agreed beyond the end of the season, the midfielder will ask for dispensation to make the trip.
There were hopes Drogba and Anelka’s arrival might revitalise the game in China, but Drogba has since moved to Galatasaray in Turkey, while Frenchman Anelka has joined Juventus.
Their former club, Shanghai Shenhua, was last month stripped of its 2003 league title, had six points deducted for next season, and fined €120,000 as part of a three-year drive to stamp out match fixing in the Chinese Super League.
