Yantai, Shandong province plans to expand football in schools, and invest 10 million yuan ($1.57 million) per year in the following three years to promote campus football.

Yantai is a pilot city in Shandong to develop school soccer. It aims to introduce football to 168 local schools by the end of 2017, including 15 high schools, 62 middle schools and 91 primary schools.

"The shortage of teachers and coaches has limited the development of school football," said Song Zuoxin, deputy director of the city's sports bureau.

From 2016 to 2018, the government will allocate 10 million yuan each year to support football in schools. The education authority plans recruit football professionals and train physical education teachers.

By the end of 2017, school football will be promoted around the city and students will be required to have at least one football class every week.

The development of China's football is a national concern, especially since President Xi Jinping, who is also a football fan, took office in 2012. This February, Xi approved an overall plan for China's soccer reform, suggesting that soccer reform and development has become a national strategy.

Edited by Andrew Ancheta