CFA bench scouts

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has confirmed that it will not be sending group scouts to attend the FIFA World Cup in Brazil this month due to budget limitations, reported Tencent News on Tuesday.

After the Chinese national football team qualified for its first and only World Cup in 2002, the CFA has sent several observation groups to attend World Cups in 2006 and 2010, with the intention of studying other top international teams. These scouting groups consisted not just of CFA officials, but chief coaches from the Chinese national and Olympic football teams.

A travel agency which helped CFA organize numerous tours abroad in the past, has claimed that the CFA has not contacted the agency to organize a group visit to the upcoming World Cup in Brazil.

Not surprisingly, this news triggered a wave of discussion online, with Net users displaying a mixture of love and hate for the national football team and the CFA.

"After they have gone abroad several times before and gained nothing, it might be best to save some money this time," said Muniheibairen in Baidu post bar.

Although many Net users criticized the frugal plans of the CFA, some saw the move as progressive, saying it shouldn't be blamed if the team does not perform. Other suggested a better use of spending.

"As far as I am concerned, the money should be used to develop young football talent in China, which is much more efficient than the group tours abroad," posted a Net user, Guiyidepiaoguo.