Chinese league season may be delayed
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The Chinese Super League season could be delayed after the arrest of several top officials in the ongoing match-fixing scandal, according to the country's new soccer supremo.
China's top flight usually begins in mid-March but the arrests of former Chinese Football Association boss Nan Yong and his deputy Yang Yimin, among others, have thrown preparations for the new season into disarray.
"The CSL will not be cancelled, that's for sure," Wei Di, who took over after Nan was dismissed last month, told Beijing News Monday.
"We are preparing for a normal beginning but presently the situation is complicated, we have many things to do in very little time. I do not rule out the possibility of a one week delay or so."
More than 20 officials, players and club managers have been arrested or detained in the last two months on suspicion of match-fixing or gambling, which is illegal in China.
Matters appeared to be further complicated at the weekend when Lu Feng, a protege of Nan and the head of the company which runs the CSL, was reported by local media as "missing."
"I don't know about the details. It is not convenient to comment at this moment," Wei said of the reports.
Lu was responsible for bringing in a three-year title sponsorship deal with Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli last year.
Pirelli China's Chief Executive Guiseppe Cattaneo said no decision would be made about the sponsorship until after a meeting with the new CFA management.
"We are still discussing with the new guys at the CFA," Cattaneo said. "We are reviewing together with these people what is going on and what the situation is."
FIFA is considering meeting with CFA officials over the match-fixing scandal, soccer's world governing body said. "FIFA are currently taking part in a joint-process of revising the CFA statutes. We hope to resume this process as soon as possible. Plans to meet with the CFA are currently under consideration."
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