It is not a game: soccer and China’s search for world hegemony

Recent signings of well-recognized soccer players and the acquisition of clubs in Europe from Chinese business tycoons have captured the attention of soccer fans, worldwide. This paper looks beyond the widely published details of those transactions trying to unveil the fundamental reasons for the government`s support of its local league. This article proposes that the Chinese government intends to reach a soccer superpower status, as part of a...