Players of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrate during the awarding ceremony of the AFC Champions League final match between Guangzhou Evergrande and Al Ahli of United Arab Emirates in Guangzhou, China, Nov. 21, 2015. Guangzhou Evergrande won 1-0 and claimed the title. (Photo: Xinhua/Cao Can)
(ECNS) -- Chinese Football Association (CFA) will ban soccer club transfers across provinces, a CNR report said on Friday.
The association released a guideline at a meeting held days before, in a move to revive Chinese soccer.
Soccer clubs will not be allowed to transfer from one province to another while a club named after a city will not be allowed to be sold to another city, the guideline states.
Soccer experts said clubs have been integrated into a city's culture and could only embrace good development after putting down roots.
Excessive transfers waste soccer resources and pose risks to stability of the league, they warned.
CFA has shown a clear-cut attitude and steadfast determination to carry out the guideline. Disobedient clubs will be deprived qualification for Chinese Super League and China League One, it said.
CFA has officially separated from the State General Administration of Sports amid reform efforts in August.
