FIFPro is "pushing for the creation of a footballers’ association in China amid concerns about overdue payments in the burgeoning league," according to the AP. FIFPro said, "Media reports this week revealed several Chinese Super League clubs are falling behind on payments, and FIFPro wishes to ensure that affected players have somewhere to turn to for help." The Asian Football Confederation "warned clubs across the continent" to settle debts to players by Aug. 31 or "risk competition bans." The "bulk of the clubs denied being in arrears to players" and said that they were sending paperwork to the Chinese FA. FIFPro said that overdue payables to players was a "global issue," with a survey of 14,000 players in '16 showing that 41% had experienced unpaid wages or bonuses in the previous two seasons (AP, 7/27). REUTERS' Michael Church reported there may be "more than a few stumbling blocks to FIFPro's ambitions," not least that Chinese workers do not have the right to join or form trade unions of their own choice. There is "only one lawful trade union in the country," the government controlled All-China Federation of Trade Unions (REUTERS, 7/27).