從國際足協（FIFA）最新排名和杭州亞運會男足表現來看，大中華地區──中國大陸、港澳和台灣（中國台北）地區男足現代化和改革──不僅是必要的，而且建議不妨學習日本非常成功的例子。
兩岸四地足球現狀如何
截至2023年9月21日，日本排名世界第19位，亞洲第1位；韓國排名世界第26位、亞洲第3位；中國居世界第80位、亞洲第11位（僅次於烏茲別克）； 香港全球排名第148位，亞洲第28位；澳門全球排名第185位，亞洲排名第39位；中國台北世界排名第154位，亞洲第29位。
2023年杭州亞運會，中國隊在A組出戰，擊敗印度（5:1）和緬甸（4:0），但與孟加拉（0:0）打和。中國隊在16強賽中以1:0擊敗卡塔爾隊，但在八強賽以0:2不敵韓國隊。一些中國大陸球迷對這個結果感到失望，儘管中國足球隊表現不錯，但與亞洲足球強國尤其是日本和韓國相比，水平還差很多。
中國台北隊分別輸給了朝鮮隊（0:2）和吉爾吉斯隊（1:4），但戰勝了印尼隊（1:0）。 雖然無因緣進入16強，但戰勝印尼表明台灣男足維持了水準。
最令人驚訝的例子是香港。 雖然兩度不敵烏茲別克（0:1、1:2），但香港隊在16強賽中以1-0擊敗巴勒斯坦隊，進入準決賽，但不敵日本隊（0:4）。在銅牌戰中，香港隊不敵烏茲別克隊（0:4）。在教練安達臣的帶領下，香港隊取得了自1958年以來亞運會的最佳成績，這一令人驚訝的成績，體現了經驗豐富的球員與年輕球員成功的結合。誠然，由於敘利亞隊和阿富汗隊退出C組，香港隊可以輕鬆進入16強，也有點運氣的成分。
澳門雖然沒有參加杭州亞運會足球賽，但在最近的4場友誼賽中慘敗，分別負於新加坡（0:1）、緬甸（0:2）、不丹（0:1）和柬埔寨（0:4）。
整體而言，中國大陸、港澳台地區的男子足球均需要進一步現代化和改革。 兩岸四地在足球現代化的過程中都有一些問題。
足球現代化的過程中的四個問題
首先，中國大陸的足球發展一直受到新冠疫情的影響，許多大型球隊解散和破產，尤其是恆大──這家房地產前龍頭從2021年起陷入了財務困境。中國大陸足球高速發展的泡沫，最終在恆大對體育雄心勃勃的投資後破滅。基於房地產領域個別商業巨頭突然投資的中國足球發展模式，證明了風險極高。一些足球員的薪水被拖欠，球會被迫關閉，中國足球管理水準整體下降。
其次，領導不力、管理不善、腐敗盛行，阻礙了中國大陸足球的發展。國足前主教練李鐵因涉嫌行賄受賄被捕就是一個典型的例子。坊間盛傳一些中國內地裁判和球員收賄、部分足協高層存在違紀違法問題。除非在反腐敗運動的同時，開展強有力的道德運動，真正清理中國內地足球圈，否則中國男足現代化的前景仍然存在問題。
第三，香港足球一直受到政府缺乏有效政策監管其發展和現代化的困擾。「鳳凰計劃」從2011年開始，投入大量資金發展本地足球，但效果不佳，主要原因是對青少年球隊的培養重視不夠，還有足球發展管理上的問題。2023年5月，甲組球隊愉園11名球員因涉嫌參與「打假波」被捕。與中國內地一樣，香港一些足球員的道德價值和體育專業水準仍有待教育和提升。
第四，台灣和澳門的足球發展仍然是業餘水平，專業化程度有待提高，從青訓到更多私營企業參與組建足球隊，以提高足球水平。
整體而言，中國大陸、港澳台地區的足球發展仍不發達。
成功例子 日本的足球現代化
兩岸四地足球現代化發展的解決方案應該向日本學習。1993年日本職業足球聯賽（J-League）成立前，香港男足曾輕鬆擊敗日本，但現在日本男足不僅遠遠領先港澳台地區，還遠遠領先中國大陸。
日本足球成功的故事必然體現在一個關鍵方面：培養和訓練大量從小學到大學的年輕球員的決心和能力。日本的大學擁有強大的球隊和代表國家隊的選手。一個很好的例子是在杭州亞運會上，擁有許多大學球員的日本隊，輕鬆擊敗了香港隊。日本的大學有完善的足球聯賽，這現象值得香港、澳門和台灣地區學習，因為這三地足球發展薄弱，缺乏大學級別的男女足球聯賽。大學足球隊發展落後、與國家足球隊脫節，是港澳台地區足球現代化失敗的標誌。
中國大陸有自己大學生足球聯賽；然而，他們的水準相對較低，必須透過擁有更好的教練、更嚴格的訓練，以及與國家隊更強的配合來提高水準。
其次，中國內地、香港、台灣三地依仗外籍教練，是足球現代化發展的有效解決辦法之一。 自從教練安達臣上任以來，香港男足進步顯著，而台灣男足在懷特（Gary White）的帶領下也取得了顯著的進步。在香港，港超聯有像傑志、理文這樣的球隊，嚴重依賴外籍球員，他們在香港居住7年後轉為本地球員，但這只是足球現代化的臨時解決方案。同樣，中國台北隊表現出色的部分原因，是從其他地方（尤其是中國大陸）入籍台灣的球員表現強勁。在澳門，土生葡人足球員雖然只佔少數，但也為男足的成績做出了貢獻。
本土年輕球員仍是中國大陸及港澳台四地發展最重要的支柱。在日本，孩子從初級階段接受嚴格的訓練，提高技能，透過中小學階段不斷開展高要求的體育課程和活動來增強體質，這是大中華四地所缺乏的現象。
近年來，中國內地已經認識到發展青少年培訓在足球現代化中的重要性。中國的U15男足表現良好，這是着眼長遠發展的現象；然而，除非最終能留住那些對足球事業抱有濃厚興趣的技術型球員，否則如何留住並輸送有才華的年輕球員到國家隊，仍然是內地的一個挑戰。
大中華區四地 足球教育範圍狹窄
令人不解的是，在大中華區四地，足球教育的範圍相當狹窄。與英國不同的是，四地在學院和大學層級培訓學生足球科學和管理的足球計劃很少。也許很多家長都有一種根深柢固的偏見，認為足球員不能也不會有良好的職業前景，而足球教育的不發達又加深了這種偏見，形成惡性循環。
理想的情況是，中國大陸、香港、澳門和台灣的高等院校應受到政府的鼓勵和資助，開設足球科學和管理的證書、文憑和學位課程。足球不只是控球和運球的技巧，更是一個非常複雜的跨學科領域，涉及科學、數據分析、心理學、教練、營養學、管理、營銷、公共政策和領導。大中華區主管足球發展的政府高層與大學、學校和足球協會（足總）之間缺乏真正的夥伴關係。
內地足球如何發展
與日本各都縣市推動足球發展不同，大中華地區的足球現代化還沒有滲透到各個地區。社會主義中國最有能力做到這一點，但內地足球的發展需要有效的足球治理與教練、裁判和球員的道德操守之間強有力的合作關係，這是成功的關鍵因素。
最後，與日本透過私營部門投資和企業集團發展日職聯不同，中國大陸、香港、澳門和台灣地區政府未能利用稅收優惠作為刺激大企業投資足球發展的有效政策工具。然而，中國恆大對足球的投資似乎更多是受到短期聲譽和榮耀的刺激，而不是稅收優惠。因此，兩岸四地應該重新檢視政府在足球現代化和改革方面缺乏有效政策的問題。
日職聯還設有一個基金，該基金用於幫助可能陷入財困的球會。日職聯基金的自助和團結精神值得中國大陸學習，國家足球協會因缺乏良好管治和廉潔領導而備受批評。
總而言之，中國大陸和港澳台地區男子足球的現代化和改革仍是體育成績的重要指標。中國大陸一直熱衷於足球現代化並改革國家足球協會；儘管如此，管理不善和腐敗仍然是阻礙足球現代化的難題。大中華區兩岸四地──中國大陸、香港、澳門、台灣──青訓和足球教育都有待充分發展，並應配套發展大學水平的競技性足球聯賽。大學球隊也應該有一條通往國家隊的銜接通道，就像日本一樣，日職聯30年的發展為中國大陸、港澳台地區提供了有益的借鏡。除了有必要讓足球成為一項群眾運動，滲透到各個地區的每所中小學之外，還應該為大企業投資足球發展提供稅收優惠。最後，要在中小學、大專院校開展足球相關課程，讓家長和孩子真正了解足球發展的複雜性、知識性、跨學科性和多元化前景。
Modernization of football in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan
Judging from the latest rankings of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and the performance of the men’s football in Hangzhou’s Asian Games, the modernization and reform of men’s football in the Greater China region – Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) – are not only necessary but calling for the need to learn from the very successful example of Japan.
As of September 21, 2023, Japan is ranked 19th in the world and the first in Asia; South Korea 26th in the world and the third in Asia; China the 80th in the world and the eleventh in Asia (after Uzbekistan); Hong Kong 148th in the world and 28th in Asia; Macau 185th in the world and 39th in Asia; and Chinese Taipei 154 in the world and 29th in Asia.
During the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China was arranged in Group A, defeating India (5-1) and Myanmar (4-0) but was tied with Bangladesh (0-0). China defeated Qatar in the Round of 16 by 1-0 but was then defeated by South Korea by 0-2 in the quarter-final match. Some mainland Chinese fans were disappointed with the result, although the Chinese football team performed quite well but it was of a much lower level compared with the Asian football giants, notably Japan and South Korea.
The Chinese Taipei team was defeated by North Korea (0-2) and Kyrgyzstan (1-4), but it was victorious over Indonesia (1-0). Although it could not enter Round 16, the victory over Indonesia showed that the standard of Taiwan men’s football has been maintained.
The surprising case was Hong Kong. Although it was defeated twice by Uzbekistan (0-1 and 1-2), the Hong Kong team defeated Palestine by 1-0 in the Round of 16 and entered the semi-final match, during which it was defeated by Japan (0-4). In the match for the bronze medal, the Hong Kong team was defeated by Uzbekistan (0-4). Under coach Jorn Anderson, the Hong Kong team acquired the best result in the Asian Games since 1958 – a surprising outcome that demonstrated the success of combining experienced players with young ones. Indeed, thanks to the withdrawal of Syria and Afghanistan in Group C, Hong Kong could enter Round 16 easily with an ingredient of luck.
Although Macau was not present in the Hangzhou’s Asian Games football tournament, it was defeated in the recently four friendly matches against Singapore (0-1), Myanmar (0-2), Bhutan (0-1) and Cambodia (0-4).
Overall, there is a need for the modernization and reform of men’s football in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. The four places have been suffering from a number of problems in their drive toward the modernization of football.
First, mainland China’s football development has been suffering from the impacts of Covid-19 during which many large teams were disbanded and bankrupt, notably Evergrande – a former property giant that ran into financial troubles from 2021 onwards. The bubbles of the rapid development of mainland Chinese football eventually burst after the ambitious investment of Evergrande in sports. The model of Chinese football development based on the sudden investment of individual business tycoons in the property sector turned out to be highly risky. Some footballers had their salaries unpaid; football clubs had to be closed; and the overall management of Chinese football deteriorated.
Second, the mainland Chinese football development has been undermined by poor leadership, bad management, and persistent corruption. The arrest of Li Tie, a former Chinese national football coach, for suspected bribery and corruption was a case in point. Rumours were rife that some mainland Chinese referees and players were embroiled in accepting bribes, and that some national football association’s executives had integrity problems. Unless an anti-corruption drive is accompanied by a strong ethical campaign to really clean up the mainland Chinese football circle, the prospects of modernization of men’s football in China remain problematic.
Third, Hong Kong’s football has been plagued by the lack of effective government’s policy of supervising its development and modernization. The Project Phoenix, starting from 2011, earmarked a large amount of money to develop local football, but its results remained ineffective mainly due to the insufficient focus on the training of youth teams and partly due to the problematic management of football development. In May 2023, eleven footballers of the first-division team Happy Valley were arrested for allegedly being involved in match-fixing. As with mainland China, some footballers in Hong Kong remain to be educated and improved in their ethical values and sports professionalism.
Fourth, football development in Taiwan and Macau remains amateur and their professionalization remains to be improved in all areas, ranging from youth training to the involvement of more private-sector companies to form their football teams for the sake of elevating the standards of football.
Overall, football remains underdeveloped in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
The solutions of modernizing football development in these four places should look to the successful example of Japan. Before the beginning of the J-League in Japan in 1993, Hong Kong’s men football had defeated Japan easily, but now Japan’s men football is far ahead of not only Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan but also mainland China.
The success of the Japanese football story must be appreciated in one crucial aspect: the determination and ability to train and produce a large number of young players from primary schools up to university level, where universities have strong teams and players being selected to represent the national teams. A good example is the Japanese men’s football performance in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, where it defeated Hong Kong easily with many players who represented their universities. The Japanese universities have a well-established football league – a phenomenon that should be learnt by Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan where football development is weak and where men’s and women’s football leagues at university level are absent. The underdevelopment of university-level football teams, and their disarticulation with the national football teams are the hallmark of the failure of modernization of football in mainland Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
Mainland Chinese universities have their football league; nevertheless, their standards are relatively low and must be improved by having better coaches and more rigorous training and stronger articulation with the national teams.
Second, the reliance of foreign coaches in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan is one of the effective solutions of modernizing football development. Hong Kong’s men football has progressed prominently since the arrival of coach Jorn Anderson, so as Taiwan’s situation under the leadership of Gary White. In Hong Kong, the Premier League has teams, such as Kit Chee and Lee Man, relying heavily on foreign players who turned into local players after residing in the city for seven years, but this is a temporary solution of football modernization. Similarly, the Chinese Taipei team performed well partly because of the robust performance of naturalized players and footballers who have been playing in other places, notably mainland China. In Macau, the local Portuguese footballers have contributed to the performance of the men’s football team, although they constitute a minority.
Locally-born young players remain the most important pillar of development in the four places in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. In Japan, young children at initial stages are trained rigorously with better skills and their physical fitness is strengthened by demanding sports classes and activities constantly at the primary and secondary school levels – a phenomenon lacking in the four places of Greater China.
In the recent years, mainland China has recognized the importance of youth training and development in football modernization. Its U15 team has been performing well, a phenomenon pointing to the long-term development; nevertheless, unless the skilful players are retained with their strong interest in pursuing a football career eventually, how to retain and transfer the talented young footballers to the national teams remains a challenge in the mainland.
Interestingly, in the four places of Greater China, football education is quite narrow. Unlike the United Kingdom, there are very few football programs that train students in the science and management of football at the college and university levels. Perhaps many parents have their ingrained bias that footballers cannot and will not have good career prospects – a prejudice reinforced by the underdevelopment of football education in a vicious cycle.
Ideally, colleges and universities in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan should be encouraged and incentivized by their governments to open certificate, diploma and degree programs in football science and management. Football is not just about the skills of controlling and manoeuvring the ball; it is a very sophisticated interdisciplinary field involving science, data analytics, psychology, coaching, dietetics, management, marketing, public policies, and leadership. There is a lack of real partnership between government leadership in football development and the universities, schools, and football associations in Greater China.
Unlike Japan where football development has been propelled at all districts and prefectures, football modernization has not been penetrating various districts in the region of Greater China. Socialist China has the strongest capacity to do so, but football development in the mainland needs the strong partnership between effective football governance and ethical conduct of coaches, referees, and players – an essential factor leading to success.
Finally, unlike Japan where private-sector investment and business conglomerates are found in developing the clubs in J-League, the governments of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan have failed to use tax incentives as the effective policy tool to stimulate big business investment in football development. China’s Evergrande investment in football, however, appeared to be stimulated more by short-term fame and glory than by tax incentives. As such, the four places should revisit their lack of effective government policies toward the modernization and reforms of football.
The J-League also has a foundation in which funds are used to assist clubs that may run into financial troubles. The self-help and solidarity nature of the J-League foundation have yet to be learnt by mainland China, where the national football association has been criticized for a lack of leadership and good governance.
In conclusion, the modernization and reforms of men’s football in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan remain an important indicator of sports performance. Mainland China has been keen to modernize its football and reform its national football association; nevertheless, mismanagement and corruption remain to be the baffling problems hindering football modernization. In all the four places in Greater China – mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan – youth training and education remain to be developed to the full extent and they should be accompanied by the development of a competitive football league at the university level. University teams should also be provided with an articulation pathway upward to the national teams, like the case of Japan where J-League’s 30 years of development provides a useful model for mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Apart from the necessity of making football a mass sports infiltrating every primary and secondary school in various districts, tax incentives should arguably be provided for big business investment in football development. Finally, football-related programs should be developed in primary and secondary schools, tertiary colleges, and universities so that parents and children will really understand the complexities, sophisticated knowledge, the interdisciplinary nature and diversified prospects of football development.
原刊於澳門新聞通訊社（MNA）網站，本社獲作者授權轉載。原文網址：https://www.macaubusiness.com/opinion-modernization-of-football-in-mainland-china-hong-kong-macau-and-taiwan/
