Zhang Jian Appointed as Chinese Soccer Chief

Zhang Jian has replaced Wei Di as the Head of the Chinese Football Association.

Zhang was formerly the director of the Policy and Regulation Department of China’s General Administration of Sport.

The news was announced by Cai Zhenhua, anabolics deputy director of the General Administration of Sport, ampoule at a meeting attended by Chinese Football Association officials. The decision was taken with a view to performing well at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Wei Di, generic who had held the position since 2010, will take charge of Chinese motor sport. Wei’s tenure was praised by Cai for stabilising Chinese football in the wake of match-fixing and corruption.

However he had come under criticism from fans and the media following poor performances by the Chinese national football teams. The men’s team failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2014 World Cup, whilst the women’s team also missed out on the Olympics and the Women’s World Cup.