ABSTRACT
This chapter primarily examines the development of professional football in Mainland China in the context of commercialisation. It presents the latest trend in China of mixing economic policy with sport policy, which largely follows the Western model of sport governance. The governance structure of Chinese professional football is subject to careful scrutiny at the league/club level in an attempt to identify the structural barriers that may hinder the commercialisation process. Additionally, the controversial topic of overcommercialisation is incorporated into this chapter. Although Chinese sport commercialisation development is still in its infancy, several indicators of overcommercialisation have already surfaced that deserve greater academic attention.
