The debate over the financial realities of professional sports in China has reignited, this time fueled by comments from former national team player Xu Liang. His remarks, initially made over a year ago, regarding the salaries of Chinese footballers, have sparked a fresh wave of discussion, particularly in light of the performance expectations placed upon the national team.
Xu previously stated that after taxes, a top-tier player in China might take home approximately 3 million RMB (around $414,000 USD) annually from a 5 million RMB contract. He points out that this is the take-home pay after significant deductions for personal income tax, a reality that often narrows the gap between gross and net earnings.
He then framed this in the context of the broader job market: “In a country with a massive population and a sport like football, one of the most popular worldwide, there may be only a limited number of players—perhaps 30 to 50—who can command this level of compensation. They’ve earned this through years of dedication, rising to the level of national team players, in a market that values the skills they possess.”
Xu argues that these salaries, paid to the very best players, are justified by their place in the elite of a high-profile, global sport. He suggests a comparison to other competitive industries, such as banking or tech: “Are the top 30 or 50 individuals in your industry earning less? They probably earn more.” He also highlights that it is not the earnings of the top professional league players that should be fully and fairly assessed, but also the compensation of players at different competitive levels. This can range from 3,000 to 20,00 RMB (and above), depending on player performance and overall industry contracts.
Xu emphasizes that this is not representative of the entire player base. And it is critical to not only review the top contracts but also the vast number of players that do not have top industry contracts.
He continues, advising that people should ask themselves how the top players in their own industries—or even their own companies—fare financially in comparison, and to consider whether their own income exceeds that of the players, who are still putting in hard work towards their profession.
Xu defends the right to offer his view. He draws a line between criticism of players’ performance and anger over their pay. He acknowledges that criticism is understandable if the results don’t meet expectations, but he believes their pay is a separate issue.
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