For European clubs active in the Chinese market there is now a greater expectation for them to contribute

The Chinese government wants to lift the country’s efforts in improving its domestic football industry as it aims to move up the FIFA rankings.

There has been a shift away from encouraging investment in the European game to a call for more focus on developing the country’s own infrastructure.

As a result, the top clubs from Europe would do well to radically reassess their strategies in China, believes Rowan Simons, the founder of China ClubFootball, a grassroots football network operating in Beijing.

“There is a big gap in China that smart foreign clubs could fill by becoming true partners to the grassroots in a targeted location,” says Rowan Simons.

 “How can we make money out of China now?’ is still the wrong question to ask, even if some clubs feel they have made significant commitments in the country.