ABSTRACT
The Covid-19 outbreak, in early 2020, forced major metropolitan regions of China into quarantine with severe ramifications for the Chinese Soccer League (CSL). Though the Chinese Football Association (CFA) at first sought to have business-as-usual, all CSL matches were canceled following the January 23 lockdown of Hubei Province, the epicenter of the virus. After the reopening of Wuhan and other Chinese cities in April 2020, the government-restricted CFA considered the potential effects of Covid-19 and the restarting of competition. It is crucial that the CFA consider the key differences between the CSL and other major soccer leagues around the world. The unique features of the CSL pose critical concerns in regard to the acquisition and management of foreign players, player salary, and event scheduling in the context of Covid-19 and the post-pandemic aftermath.
