Deputy Director Li Lipeng provided an overview of U23 player participation in the latest round of the Chinese Super League. A total of 25 U23 players featured in the round, with 17 in the starting lineups. The average playing time was 41.9 minutes, while starting players averaged 50.8 minutes on the pitch. As of Round 7, Henan Jianye leads the league in U23 player appearances, with a total of 25.
During the press conference, a reporter raised concerns about a surge in disciplinary violations during this round. Deputy Director Li acknowledged that the pressure to perform has led to a distorted understanding of the rules and the principles of fair play, resulting in a concentration of issues. He assured that league authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
Regarding controversial refereeing decisions and instances where players or coaches showed disrespect toward match officials, Li stated that any disciplinary violations involving athletes or coaches will be addressed through formal hearings conducted by the disciplinary committee. Refereeing matters, meanwhile, will be handled by the referee office.
Toward the end of the session, Li responded to questions about the future of the reserve league. He clarified that the reserve league has played a positive and meaningful role in Chinese football since its inception. It has served as a vital talent pipeline for first teams and has fostered healthy competition within clubs. Contrary to rumors, there are no plans to abolish the reserve league. Instead, efforts will be made to reform and improve the current system to ensure it continues serving its purpose effectively.
According to Li, who also serves as Deputy Director of the League Council’s Executive Office, only seven matches were played this round due to the postponement of the fixture between Shanghai Shenhua and Shandong Taishan. Across the seven matches, a total of 27 goals were scored, averaging 3.86 goals per match.
The total number of spectators reached 154,372, with an average attendance of around 22,000 per game. Two red cards and 29 yellow cards were issued throughout the round. The average net playing time was 51 minutes and 49 seconds, with the Henan Jianye vs. Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao match recording the highest net playtime at 56 minutes and 35 seconds. Across the first seven rounds of the Chinese Super League, the average net playing time stands at 49 minutes and 51 seconds.
As BD Cricket continues to track the league’s developments, it’s clear that while reform is on the horizon, the reserve league remains an essential component of China’s football development strategy.