After decades of failed reforms, China´s soccer sees now the largest push for change ever, triggered by soccer fan Xi Jinping. Soccer expert Rowan has some hope it might work, he tells Associated Press.Read More →
Chinese love soccer and the ongoing World Cup is just showing that, even though China is not even playing. Unfortunately, soccer expert Rowan Simons tells CNN, the country lacks to fundamentals to become a soccer nation in the future.Read More →
Alibaba´s purchase of Guangdong´s Evergrande has put football again on the agenda. Football expert Rowan Simons tells the Economist China´s football needs to spend more on its youth in stead of buying foreign players and coaches. Evergrande did so already.Read More →
British soccer legend David Beckham has started as an ambassador for scandal riddled Chinese football, but that will not be enough, tells soccer expert Rowan Simons in the South China Morning Post. “Not enough to wipe the ingrained cynicism in fans.”Read More →
Upcoming China President Xu Jinping is an avid soccer fan and that – say experts like Rowan Simons – might explain why business people are throwing big money at foreign soccer players like Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba, writes the BBC.Read More →
The influx of well-paid international soccer stars into Chinese club might not be the best way to support grassroots soccer, tells author Rowan Simons in SportsDay, but it is better to pay high-flyers like Nicolas Anelka in stead of bribes, as was common practices.Read More →
The transfer of Chelsea soccer star Nicolas Anelka to Shanghai’s Shenhua could become a turning point in China’s troubled soccer league, says soccer specialist Rowan Simons, in The Sun. “His move will open the floodgates.”Read More →
Rowan Simons by Fantake via Flickr The NBA has become a tremendous success in China, both in popularity and as a money machines. Unlike soccer, tells Rowan Simons CNN, a leading expert on soccer in China, who points at corruption scandals as the main reason. In CNN: Earlier this yearRead More →
Image via Wikipedia China’s soccer expert Rowan Simons explains in the New York Times why China is not present at the current World Cup in South Africa: Let’s talk politics. The Chinese Football Association is an illegal organization under Article 17 of FIFA’s constitution which demands independence from government. YetRead More →
Chairman OMI Group CMM Intelligence China; ClubFootball FC Travels from Beijing Who says soccer in Beijing means Rowan Simons, the Briton who has taught the Chinese how to love football, against all odds. In his compelling book “Bamboo Goalposts” he describes lively the Long March of soccer in China, andRead More →