Chinese football to impose salary cap—report

SHANGHAI: Chinese football is set to introduce more exacting regulations from next season to dampen spending by clubs, including a salary cap, state media said on Wednesday.

The latest rules will help curb “irrational” investments and see all domestic professional players sign new contracts starting in 2019, Xinhua news agency cited sources with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) as saying.

The size of the salary cap has not been decided and the article did not make reference to the salaries of foreign players, some of whom are on vast wages.

There will also be a cap on win bonuses, Xinhua said, adding that cash bonuses will not be allowed.

Chinese football has gained increasing worldwide prominence in recent years because of a series of well-known foreign stars moving to the country on eyewatering contracts.

Brazilian attacking midfielder Oscar joined Chinese Super League (CSL) club Shanghai SIPG in January 2017 for an Asian-record 60 million euros on what were reportedly some of the highest wages in football.

Argentine striker Carlos Tevez was another who arrived in China, lured to the country in the same transfer window on a reported world-leading 730,000 euros a week.

He left Shanghai Shenhua after an ill-fated 12-month spell.

The salary and bonus cap is the latest salvo from the CFA to rein in spending.

Last year, it brought in a new transfer rule stipulating that clubs paying more than 45 million yuan ($6.5 million) for a foreign player would have to pay an equivalent amount into a fund to develop Chinese players.

Melaka set aside RM150,000 as incentives for athletes

MELAKA: The Melaka government have allocated RM150,000 as incentives for their athletes who win medals at the 19th Para Sukma 2018 in Ipoh, Perak.

Melaka are sending 64 athletes and 32 officials to the eight-day Games, which began yesterday.

Chief Minister Adly Zahari described the incentives as an early boost to ensure Melaka put up an improved performance at the biennial Games as well as a form of aid for the athletes.

He said the state government would also increase the incentive for gold medallists by RM500, but did not elaborate on the exact amount to be given to each medallist.

“The contribution is only a motivation, what is more meaningful is the fighting spirit they display to bring glory to the state.

“We are targeting 10 golds, 15 silvers and 10 bronzes at the Para Sukma,” he told reporters after handing over the state flag to the contingent here yesterday.