Internet phone firm backs ailing Chinese league
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-11 10:49

BEIJING, March 10 (Reuters) - China's troubled Super League unveiled internet communications company Iphox as its new title sponsor on Friday.

"They know Chinese football has a lot of problems and needs some help," Nan Yong, chairman of Chinese Super League, told reporters at a signing ceremony in Beijing.

"But they also recognise China's large population offers a great marketing opportunity." No financial details were available.

The announcement came on the eve of the third season of the league which has been without a title sponsor since German electronics giant Siemens pulled out after a scandal-plagued first season.

Yin Mingshan, Chongqing club boss and member of the advisory body to China's parliament, this week described Chinese football as being afflicted by match-fixing, gambling, corruption, biased reporting, strikes, rude crowds, violence, drugs, prostitution, debts and falling standards.

One Super League club folded with huge debts during the close season although Super League general manager Qu Yuing said another struggling club, Liaoning, would fulfil their opening fixture at Chongqing on Saturday.

Johan Schotte, chairman of Iphox international, said the signing ceremony also marked the global launch of its internet telephone product.

"We are interested in the huge potential of the Chinese market," he said.

"Football is the most popular sport in the world and China is no exception with millions of enthusiastic fans."

"We hope to sponsor CSL for many years to come. (The problems) are in the past and we're here for the future."

Nan said the league's cumulative TV audience was 120 million last year with average crowds of 12,000. That compares with an average attendance of 24,700 and combined TV ratings of up to 500 million eight years ago.

In his highly critical article, Yin said the professional game needed strict administration and public supervision if it was to be revived.

"Chinese football is sick, but please do not discard it," he said.