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Early test for new CFA chief
As sponsorship money fails to pour in, 11 of the 14 Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs are pressuring new Chinese Football Association (CFA) chief Xie Yalong to put the start of the 2005 season back by a month. The Chinese "G7" of Dalian Shide, Beijing Hyundai, Shenzhen Jianlibao, Shanghai International, Qingdao Zhongneng, Sichuan Guancheng and Liaoning FC have asked Xie not to make the same mistakes as his predecessor Yan Shiduo and listen to the clubs, who demand more time to find sponsors before kick-off and want more rights in the running of the league. In an early test of his mettle Xie, who was handed the CFA top job last week, has said the season should start on March 5 as scheduled. But he could have a club rebellion on his hands if he refuses to negotiate some kind of compromise. The Chinese press have called it "a welcoming present" for the new chief executive. With under two weeks to go until the start of the season, Liaoning are in a particularly desperate situation as Zhongyu Automobile Co. have withdrawn their sponsorship of the team, while China Unicom have also left the Fushun-based club in the lurch. Liaoning's Dongbei region neighbours Shenyang Ginde claim that a postponement would be beneficial due to the severe winter weather up in the northeast. In contrast, newly promoted Wuhan Huanghelou have attracted the financial backing of numerous local companies in Hubei province, while Shanghai Zobon are sponsored by the likes of China Telecom and Mercedes-Benz. Another big test for Xie Yalong is to find a title sponsor for the CSL after Siemens ended their sponsorship of the league in January. According to rumours, the CFA is currently negotiating a deal with Japanese company Canon.
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