BEIJING: China’s football association has launched a further attempt to curb spending in the Chinese Super League with a rule that some clubs must magch their transfer expenditure by paying similar sums to a government-run youth fund.

In January Brazil midfielder Oscar joined Shanghai SIPG from English champions Chelsea for £52m. His contract is worth a reported £500,000 a week, a salary that would place him among the highest-paid players in world football.

Ahead of the opening of the summer transfer window, the CFA has moved to limit clubs’ spending by introducing a new rule that seeks to aid the development of young Chinese players.

In a statement reported by state news agency Xinhua, the CFA said: “To benefit the healthy and steady development of professional football leagues and curb the irrational spending on players, those clubs which are in the red should pay the same sums of money as their spending on buying players to Chinese Football Development Fund and the money will be used for the development of local young players and the promotion of football in China.”

Another new rules lays down that CSL clubs must field the same number of local under-23 players as foreigners from next year.

The CFA in January confirmed the introduction of new regulations that would limit the number of overseas players able to appear in domestic matches. Clubs in the CSL and China League One are limited to fielding a maximum of three foreign players per game during the 2017 season.

Previously, a ‘3+1’ rule had been utilised, meaning clubs could field three foreigners plus a fourth player from another Asian country at any one time. A fifth foreigner could be named on the bench and introduced into the play, as long as the 3+1 rule was maintained.

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