Football in Australia has "something Chinese football wants -- honesty, knowledge and achievement" -- and they are willing to pay for it, according to Michael Cockerill of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Football in China has "something Australia desperately needs -- money." If "Chinese investors can buy strategic northern Australian ports, enormous tracts of prime farmland in northern NSW, and the priciest mansions on Sydney harbour, what's stopping them owning A-League clubs?" Nothing at all. And "after a decade of kicking the tyres it seems they're finally ready to buy." It is the "IP they want most of all." For the best part of two decades, "huge riches have poured into Chinese football." Billions. All the Chinese game has "to show for it is a couple of Asian Champions League titles with Guangzhou Evergrande -- achieved almost entirely because of foreign players and coaches -- and not much else." With the "highest political authorities in Beijing having made it clear that getting better at the world game is not an option, it's a must, things are on the move." Sometime this year, perhaps even within the next few months, there is "every chance both Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets will become Chinese-owned." On a global level, "even an Asian level, the buy-in price" of around $5M is "dirt cheap." In return -- "in terms of establishing a bridgehead in Australia and using it to listen and learn -- the Chinese are confident the rewards will soon outweigh the investment." It is "how the Chinese operate in so many other Australian industries." Knowledge "is king." Why "should football be any different?" (SMH, 1/24).
