Lawmakers and parents’ groups yesterday condemned the soccer governing body’s decision to discontinue the Youth Football League, saying that other amateur programs might also be at risk of being terminated.
Soccer Moms and Dads Support Group spokeswoman Hsu Hsin-yuan (徐新媛) told a media briefing at the legislature that newly elected Chinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA) chairman Wang Lin-hsiang (王麟祥) is unsuitable for the job.
She said that most parents of young soccer players are furious about the CTFA’s explanation for discontinuing the youth league, quoting it as saying that it does not have the funds needed to operate the league.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
“This decision leaves parents and kids out in the cold,” she said. “Now they have to rely on sports programs at schools for training and games.”
The true reason for discontinuing the league is the CTFA leadership’s incompetence, Hsu said, adding that she is planning a protest at the CTFA headquarters.
The youth league lays the foundation for competitions for older players, she said, adding that discontinuing it would deal a severe blow to the nation’s soccer culture.
Hsu made the comments after Wang on Friday last week announced that the league would be terminated, citing the need to cut expenses to reduce the CTFA’s debt of about NT$100 million (US$3.28 million).
At the news briefing, she was joined by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators Chang Liao Wan-chien (張廖萬堅), Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) and Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜).
The Youth Football League was inaugurated in 2020. It has 59 teams playing in U15 and U18 divisions.
Chang Liao said that most youth sports competitions are held for school teams, with many schools offering separate sports-focused programs, while youth sports in Europe and Japan mostly rely on independent clubs.
“Most parents in Taiwan want their children to focus on academics. They do not want them to join sports-focused classes,” he said.
With games scheduled on weekends, the Youth Football League offered children the possibility to focus on academics while playing soccer at a high level, making the league popular among parents, Chang Liao said.
The CTFA’s decision “has sparked anger among many parents,” he said, urging it to reverse course and the Sports Administration to mediate between the CTFA and other interest groups.
Liu said the youth league is vital for the future of Taiwan’s soccer ambitions.
The Sports Administration should hold the CTFA financially accountable and ensure that the youth league continues, he added.
Sports Administration Deputy Director-General Hung Chih-chang (洪志昌) confirmed that the CTFA is about NT$100 million in debt.
“We have recommended policies to restore its financial health,” he said, adding that the Sports Administration has promised the CTFA funding for the league this year.
“However, the CTFA should make plans for the long term,” he added.
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