Chinese Football Association (CFA) Chairman Xie Yalong has announced that he will step down, Sina.com reported.

Xie told a CFA meeting yesterday afternoon that he would attend a training course at the National Administrative Institute for three months and during this period vice chairman Nan Yong will take over his position though local media speculated that the move may be of a permanent nature.

He leaves just as the Swiss sponsor of the CFA is asking for a 10 million yuan (US$1.46 million) cut in its sponsorship agreement after the poor performance of Team China. The CFA has also begun legal proceedings against former China Super League sponsor Iphox seeking a 54 million euro (US$ 75.79 million) payment.

Nan and Yang Yimin, both vice chairmen of the CFA, discussed Team China's problems last week, especially focusing on the choice of head coaches for the men's and women's national teams, and preparations for the preliminary stage of the Asian Cup and the Four Nations Cup in January.

China did not renew men's team coach Vladimir Petrovic's contract after it failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in July. The contract for women's team head coach, Shang Ruihua, will expire before the CFA's next meeting in October.

Fans at China's Olympic matches chanted "Xie Yalong must go" and local media have speculated on his future.

(Shanghai Daily September 11, 2008)