Yan Shiduo, the executive vice president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), on Friday warned the country's professional clubs to put "social benefits" and "love for the society" before making money.

"Making money is not the top priority for professional soccer. You should have love for the society and making money is always in the second place after social benefits," Yao said.

He said that major soccer clubs in Europe are always regarded as "non-profitable" companies and their first task is to serve the society.

"During my visit in England, I was told that you should have three preconditions before running professional clubs: money, love for soccer and love for the society."

Yan, who took office four years ago, did not say when he visited England and whom he met there.

The relations between the CFA and the country's top clubs turned sour last season because the CFA has been constantly accused of doing little to punish match fixing, gambling, and other corruptive things in the first division leagues."

Seven clubs have threatened to quit the top-flight league unless the CFA agreed to give them more say commercially and have a larger share of income from the league.

Unlike England where the English FA does not directly run the premier league, the CFA is the owner of all the professional leagues at all levels. The clubs have no representatives in the governing body, either.

"Yes, you can make money of professional soccer, but you should not take it as the only target. Otherwise, all the clubs will find it hard to survive," said Yan, who was formerly a government official and once said he "knows nothing about soccer."

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2004)