Chinese state newspaper the People's Daily "carried another lengthy editorial warning Chinese Super League clubs to stop 'burning money' on Monday in the latest sign that the government is seriously worried by out-of-control transfer spending on foreign players," according to James Porteous of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. China's clubs have "shocked" world football over the past year by spending "ever more incredible amounts to lure players," with the spending "ramping up again" this month as the transfer window reopened. In recent weeks, there have been "increasing signs that the authorities are determined to rein in the wild spending." In December, the People's Daily -- seen as a "bellwether of government opinion" -- warned clubs not to "mortgage their future." On Monday, the state paper warned that "burning money" was not the way to improve football in the country as it railed against a transfer "arms race" and said teams were more concerned with "hyping their own names rather than helping the development of Chinese football." The editorial said, "Moderate introduction of foreign players ... is good, moderately increasing investment to enhance the club's image and the football market is good." But the "crazy" spending will lead people to ask "is this to deliberately hype themselves or to genuinely develop football" (SCMP, 1/9).
