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Beckham begins China football envoy role | Beckham begins China football envoy role |
(about 1 hour later) | |
David Beckham is in Beijing to begin his new role as a special ambassador for Chinese football. | David Beckham is in Beijing to begin his new role as a special ambassador for Chinese football. |
It will involve attending league matches in China and visiting clubs to help promote the game to children. | It will involve attending league matches in China and visiting clubs to help promote the game to children. |
His appointment, announced earlier this month, comes as Chinese football works to recover from a match-fixing scandal that saw dozens of top officials, players and referees jailed or banned. | His appointment, announced earlier this month, comes as Chinese football works to recover from a match-fixing scandal that saw dozens of top officials, players and referees jailed or banned. |
Beckham, 37, will combine the role with playing for Paris St-Germain. | Beckham, 37, will combine the role with playing for Paris St-Germain. |
"I am helping in the education for young kids and young aspiring footballers," he said in a press conference. | |
"It's as simple as that. I am not here to clear up anything. I am here to educate the children and give them a chance of becoming professional footballers." | |
But, says the BBC's John Sudworth, he has his work cut out. In a nation of 1.3 billion people some estimates suggest that fewer than 100,000 youths play any form of organised football. | |
In terms of television viewers China has plenty of fans, but many prefer to watch foreign games over the tarnished domestic league, our correspondent adds. | In terms of television viewers China has plenty of fans, but many prefer to watch foreign games over the tarnished domestic league, our correspondent adds. |
In February, China's football association banned 33 players and officials for life after a three-year probe into match-fixing. | In February, China's football association banned 33 players and officials for life after a three-year probe into match-fixing. |
Two ex-heads of the football league were also jailed in June 2012 for corruption, four months after the country's top referee, Lu Jun, was imprisoned for taking money to influence games. | Two ex-heads of the football league were also jailed in June 2012 for corruption, four months after the country's top referee, Lu Jun, was imprisoned for taking money to influence games. |
The Chinese national team has also failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. | The Chinese national team has also failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. |
Beckham's four-day visit will include training sessions with primary schoolchildren and visits to football clubs in Beijing, Qingdao and Wuhan. | Beckham's four-day visit will include training sessions with primary schoolchildren and visits to football clubs in Beijing, Qingdao and Wuhan. |
The former England captain, one of the most globally recognised names in football, has won a league championship at all three of the clubs he has played for on a permanent basis - Manchester United, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy. |