Political reform "remains a remote prospect in China," but there is "hope of revolutionary change on the nation's football pitches," particularly after the visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Man City, according to Calum MacLeod of the LONDON TIMES. Xi toured the club's football academy at the end of his visit to Britain last week, and "asked his hosts for their help in raising China's game." Xi is "shaking up" part of China's state-run, centralized sports system. As part of his "China dream," he has approved "radical reform to free football from government control" and expand the number of schools that specialize in the game from 8,000 to 50,000 by '25. The aim is to qualify for the World Cup, "and one day host the competition." Rowan Simons, the British founder of China's first independent football club, said, "Football offers one sliver of hope for transparent, democratic and meritocratic reform -- Xi has put it out there. His No. 1 point is the reform of governance, and that's what he wants Britain to help with." Xi's 50-point plan for change was released in the spring, prompting the sports ministry to announce in August that it would "relinquish control" of the Chinese FA. However, skepticism "is widespread, as Chinese authorities are loathe to allow genuine independence" in any organization. Simons: "It's proving extremely hard and slow for the CFA to change, but it's going to happen" (LONDON TIMES, 10/27).
