FIFPro is ready to offer assistance to professional footballers in China and other parts of the world where local player associations do not yet exist.

Media reports this week revealed several Chinese Super League clubs are falling behind on payments, and FIFPro wishes to ensure that affected players have somewhere to turn to for help, if needed.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently warned clubs in the region to settle all debts by August 31, or face disqualification from AFC matches, a move FIFPro welcomes.

Overdue payables is a global concern with 41% of the nearly 14,000 players surveyed by FIFPro, in 2016, stating they had experienced unpaid wages and bonuses in the last two seasons.

In Asia, FIFPro conducted a separate study in 2015, of over a 1000 players in nine countries, that revealed 26% of players on the continent had recently been subjected to overdue pay.

Players in China do not have the benefit of a local players’ association to protect their interests.

In light of China’s strong commitment to developing football, FIFPro would like to work with local authorities, the AFC, FIFA, and other relevant stakeholders, to help China achieve the highest possible standards of football governance.

In time, the establishment of an association which protects the players and ensures their voices are represented in administering the sport would be beneficial to further enhance China’s plan to become a global football powerhouse.