Own Goal! UK invest £3m for training football coaches in China

The cash-rich Chinese Super League has attempted to lure big-name players such as Chelsea striker Diego Costa with vastly inflated wages.

His former teammate, midfielder Oscar, joined Shanghai SIPG for a reported £21million a year in wages at the start of this month.

Despite the unprecedented level of money being poured into football in China, a new project has been launched using British expertise and funding to train 5,000 coaches in the country within the next four years.

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Oscar joined Shanghai SIPG for a reported £21million a year in wages

With money provided by the British Council, suitable candidates will be trained by experienced British coaches to gain UK qualifications.

The programme aims to position the UK as China’s priority partner in sport

British Council spokeswoman

The new UK-China Campus Football Development Initiative aims to train 660 Chinese coaches within the first year.

A spokeswoman for the British Council said: “The programme aims to position the UK as China’s priority partner in sport. Through doing so, it will secure a substantial fan base for UK football.

“The British Council received no funding for the initiative, which is funded from surplus generated through our commercial activities.

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Chinese Super League has attempted to lure Chelsea striker Diego Costa

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Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has admitted the money-fl ushed Chinese Super League represents a danger

“Our Chinese partners are cofunding the initiative on an equal footing. This is not a programme which uses any UK Government or taxpayers’ money.”

She added: “Through the programme, Chinese coaches are trained by UK coaches and taken through a UK training framework, building the reputation of and access to UK qualifications.

“All training takes place in China – 660 coaches will have been trained by the close of year one of the programme. We anticipate that 5,000 Chinese coaches will be trained across the four- year programme.”

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has admitted the money-flushed Chinese Super League represents a danger to clubs across Europe’s elite leagues.

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Arsenal are alarmed by the possibility that Sanchez could be offered £400,000 a week

After seeing Brazilian international star Oscar, who is in his career prime at 25, leave his title- chasing team to become one of the highest paid players in the world in China, he said: “The Chinese market is a danger for all. Not only for Chelsea but all the teams in the world.

“Oscar is a really good player. I was proud to have him in my squad. I’m proud of his attitude, his commitment and his behaviour, which have been fantastic. I’m sorry to see him go.”

Arsenal have also been alarmed by the possibility that Alexis Sanchez could be offered £400,000 a week to reject a new contract at the Emirates Stadium.

Premier League clubs simply cannot compete with such sums of money.

Original Article