Javier Tebas Advocates for Chinese Football Development at Spain-China Forum

Javier Tebas participated in the roundtable titled ‘Sports Diplomacy: A Bridge Between Societies’ at the 10th Spain-China Forum on Thursday. He shared the stage with Rafael Louzán, President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation; Song Kai, President of the Chinese Football Association; and Li Kemin, President of the China Professional Football League.

During the discussion, Tebas highlighted the agreements between Spain and China and the role of Spanish clubs in fostering the growth of football in China, a country he believes has tremendous potential due to its large population.

Regarding the support from Spanish football to its Chinese counterpart, he stated, “At the core of LaLiga and its clubs lies the commitment to export our knowledge without expecting anything in return. It is our obligation to share our experience with other competitions. We have had offices in China for 12 years, and we understand Chinese football and its unique characteristics very well. If they seek our assistance or advice, we are here for them. We offer honest feedback on their shortcomings and opportunities for advancement. We do not engage in partnerships solely for commercial gain; we believe that success will follow if we focus on nurturing the sport. I am proud to be named as a strategic advisor. This is not a mere honorary title; I plan to be proactive in my efforts. The primary goal is to elevate Chinese professional football to its rightful place among the top ten football powers, both in terms of national teams and professional leagues. Achieving this requires hard work and patience, though the vast population of China should facilitate the process.”

He also emphasized the importance of developing youth football, stating, “We should not overly separate youth football from the professional leagues. Our academies are integral to youth football and compete in leagues that eventually lead to professional careers. Spain is the leading country in the world for players who compete at the highest level after being trained in local academies. Sometimes we hear that we sign few players, but the truth is that we already have many emerging from our youth system. In China, we believe that their youth football needs more competitiveness, which is something we have in Spain. Young players compete intensely for 90 minutes, often against those with much more experience, which helps to strengthen national teams. Furthermore, training coaches is vital; a prime example is Antonio, the U23 national coach, who has led the team to victory in the Asian Championship.”

Tebas also acknowledged the scale of football in China, noting, “To illustrate the growth and potential of Chinese football, there are over 160,000 football fields that have been established in recent years. Football is now a mandatory subject in schools, and 60% of the Chinese population identifies as football fans. This provides a solid foundation for building a strong national league and an effective national team. Regarding the audiovisual aspects, there is an awareness of the need to advance, and they are looking at how we broadcast football. They have our audiovisual regulations, which are crucial for growth. Our efforts in audiovisual collaboration have progressed significantly; after several years away from the public channel in China, returning to CCTV5 two years ago has provided us with crucial exposure, with two live matches airing weekly. This resurgence has allowed us to regain viewership and appeal to our Chinese sponsors. We are currently enjoying a fruitful period in China, and we participated in the recent visit of President Sanchez and the King. We will continue our collaboration, having held a working meeting today and planning another in March in China.”

In response, Li Kemin, President of the China Professional Football League, and Song Kai, President of the Chinese Football Association, praised Tebas, Louzán, and Spanish football.

“We have appointed Mr. Tebas as our strategic advisor. He has visited us three times, assisting us in establishing a scientific governance structure, developing regulations for managing matches, and setting up the youth football system. Mr. Tebas has been described as the ambassador of football. Chinese football must learn from Spanish professional football,” stated Li Kemin.

Song Kai added, “Alongside Mr. Tebas and Louzán, we have met several times to facilitate exchange and communication. We have signed a memorandum of understanding. Spanish football has a vast following, with many Chinese fans passionately supporting Madrid and Barcelona. We anticipate fruitful exchanges, particularly in youth football.”