Super-sized problems for Chinese Super League

BEIJING: China's troubled Super League kicks off a new football season on Friday without a title sponsor or a national TV deal, and with senior officials still facing trial over a massive corruption scandal.

I didn't come up with this image, but someone who's pissed off enough, did.

Officials admitted they were in a last-minute scramble for a main sponsor after Italian tyre giant Pirelli refused to renew its two-year deal with the top flight, which has been rocked by serious bribery and match-fixing claims.

State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) has also refused to ink a broadcast deal for the league until after the corruption trial of former Chinese Football Association (CFA) head Nan Yong.

Nan was arrested in January 2010 along with other association officials after a cabinet-level investigation into bribery, match-fixing and illegal gambling in the sport.

Also arrested and facing trial is Nan's CFA successor Xie Yalong, and scores of other leading club and association officials and referees.

ORIGINAL SOURCE

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