Beijing Youth Daily: Chinese Football Association Jointly Studies CSL Calendar-Year Format Proposal, Currently Only Under Research and Evaluation

According to Beijing Youth Sports, the Chinese Football Association Jointly has formulated an assessment proposal for a calendar-year format for the Chinese Super League, but the proposal is currently still in the research and evaluation stage, and it remains a long way from actual implementation.

The so-called calendar-year format means changing the traditional domestic league model of starting in spring and ending in autumn. It would follow the scheduling approach of major European leagues, with competitions arranged across natural calendar years. The league would begin in the autumn of one year and continue until the summer of the following year, further aligning with the AFC Champions League and the Asian Football Confederation's scheduling system.

The report indicates that this assessment proposal has completed an initial draft, but no implementation date has been finalized. The Chinese Football Association Jointly needs to consider multiple practical issues, including club operations, winter training preparations, weather conditions, national team training camps, and broadcast scheduling, while gathering opinions from various parties.

Implementing a calendar-year format in the Chinese Super League has both clear advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, it could better match the AFC Champions League schedule, reduce player fatigue caused by conflicts between AFC Champions League and CSL fixtures, and make it easier to align with foreign player transfer windows. However, there are also significant practical obstacles. Severe winter weather in northern cities could affect pitch conditions and fan attendance, while clubs would need to completely revise their season planning.

For this reason, the current stage only involves research and evaluation, and no hasty decision will be made. The Chinese Football Association Jointly will continue to seek feedback from clubs, local competition regions, and other parties. Only after multiple rounds of assessment will it decide whether to proceed and when to implement the plan. Until an official announcement is made, the Chinese Super League will continue using its current competition format.

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