Sun Jihai to leave for Crystal next week

The day before China National Soccer Team (CNST) footballers went to the U.S.A. for Sino-U.S. friendly, China Football Association (CFA) approved its first document of the Snake Year and faxed it to all of its subsidiary clubs. With the issuance of the CFA document all domestic soccer clubs are told to prize national interests and strictly prohibit CNST footballers' transfer to foreign clubs abroad.

According to CFA's document, no CNST footballers are allowed to transfer to clubs of other countries during World Cup 2002 preliminary matches. The news has created a stir among CNST footballers. They think that the decision will undoubtedly put more pressure on them.

Goalkeeper Jiang Jin said he could not understand the ban because China's opponents in preliminary group matches such as Indonesia and Cambodia are all impotent adversaries. He believed that the real challenge would only be met until the Super Ten matches come up in August.

Some CNST footballers who have a strong desire for going abroad said that they would not pay much attention to CFA's document. According to international practice, valid transfer of footballers between countries requires a certain certificate from the maternal country's football association. However, if the concerned party, along with his original and new clubs that he affiliates himself with should jointly sign an agreement and submit it to the FIFA, the transfer might also become valid.

A CFA official made an explanation on the document issued that they require all CNST footballers get ready and wholly attend to all preliminary matches. As for CNST footballers' transfer to foreign clubs abroad, it could be dealt with after the World Cup 2002.

(People's Daily 02/01/01)