ABSTRACT
Through an extensive literature review, this study examines the relationships between the stakeholders in the Chinese professional football league, the Chinese Super League (CSL). Relationships such as principal-agent relationship, contractual relationship, transactional relationship, and ownership relationship, reflect a variety of distinctive stakeholder symbiotic models at different stages of CSL, where mutualism emerges as a strong driving force and the optimal model for the sustainable development of CSL. The findings underscore the importance of a long-term and balanced development of CSL clubs, emphasize the necessity for the government and the related associations to embrace a service-oriented administration, and create a favorable symbiotic environment for Chinese professional football, and further promote the marketization of CSL as well as coordination, cooperation, and mutual sharing among its stakeholders. Taken together, it is suggested that ensuring stakeholders’ lawful rights and interests, particularly those of the CSL clubs, being protected and maximized, is vital to the professionalization of Chinese football.
