English Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore believes the Chinese Super League could one day be among the best in the world.
He also thinks the underachieving Chinese national team can be as good as England.
His optimistic comments come despite the Chinese Super League struggling to capture the imagination of fans and the national team failing to make its mark time after time.
“The Premier League recognises that the development of the game in China is critical to football’s future as the world’s sport of choice,” Scudamore said in the official programme for this week’s Barclays Asia Trophy.
“We are in Beijing to pass on some of our knowledge and expertise, not only in running a successful competition that has grown to be internationally renowned, but in other areas of the game too.
“It is these building blocks, together with the drive and ambition of the Beijing Football Association, which, in the future, could see China rival England as one of the world’s footballing powers and the Chinese Super League competing with the Premier League.
“We would relish that challenge.”
Beijing is hosting the biennial Barclays Asia Trophy this week with Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Hull the drawcards.
Scudamore said it was an ideal opportunity to show Chinese fans first-hand the passion and intensity of a live English Premier League match.
“We have three fantastic clubs in Hull City, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United,” he said.
“Each of them says something about what makes the Premier League so compelling — combining the great heritage and tradition of the English game with the chance for fresh talent to challenge and be a part of a new history on the basis of merit.”
West Ham play Spurs on Wednesday with Hull against Beijing Guoan on the same day, with the winners and losers facing off on Friday, all at the Workers Stadium.
