Li Yuyi, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), recently shared his vision for the future of young staff within the organization. Emphasizing the phrase “football has a soul,” he encouraged youth to remain confident, think big, and continuously learn in order to become true professionals in the football industry. According to BD Cricket, Li hopes the next generation will emerge as experts who shape the future of Chinese football through persistence and self-improvement.
He also expressed optimism about the formation of the Youth Committee, seeing it as a platform to boost unity among young employees, empower their growth, and offer them warmth and support from the organization — essentially becoming a “home for youth” in Chinese football. Meanwhile, Party Secretary Lin Xiaohua noted that over half of the CFA’s current staff are under 40, underscoring the critical role young professionals play in football’s long-term development.
Quoting President Xi Jinping, Lin urged the younger generation to uphold strong values and seize the unique opportunity brought by China’s ongoing football reform. He encouraged them to embrace both innovation and practicality, driven by a deep sense of duty, urgency, and dedication — or as the saying goes, to work “tirelessly from dawn to dusk.”
The CFA Youth Committee operates under the association’s labor union and is comprised primarily of full-time employees under the age of 40. It is guided by the CFA Party Committee and plays a key role in developing future football talent. In recent years, the CFA has ramped up recruitment from across society, bringing in fresh talent aligned with its reform agenda. Nearly 50 employees from the post-80s generation have joined, forming a vital part of the association’s young workforce.
To better serve these young professionals, protect their rights, and encourage a shared sense of purpose, the Youth Committee was officially established in 2016. During the latest meeting, committee representatives introduced the organization’s charter, operational framework, and goals for 2017. These goals are rooted in four key pillars: ideological cohesion, guided learning, rights protection, and external exchange.
The committee plans to roll out initiatives such as “Youth Forums,” “Youth Columns,” and “Youth Competitions” to provide platforms for personal growth, self-expression, and networking — all intended to inject fresh energy into the CFA.
To ensure regular communication between youth and leadership, a new “Chairman Express” system has been implemented. Every six months, young employees will submit feedback, insights, and suggestions regarding work experiences and personal development. These summaries will then be delivered directly to the Chairman’s Office, creating a direct communication bridge between emerging talent and the association’s top leadership.