On the CBA Exclusive Right for Contract Renewal SystemReflections on the "Retention of ZHOU Qi"

The "Retention of ZHOU Qi" case stems from the CBA exclusive right for contract renewal system, which is preset to encourage clubs to develop players on their own and appropriately liberalize players' transfer. However, with the professionalization of competitive sports in China, the lack of players' interest protection rules reveals not only the legal dilemma in which the system excludes both the competition freedom and occupational choice freedom, but also the value dilemma of the imbalance of the four parties' interests behind the system due to the limited understanding of the specificity of sport in China. CBA exclusive right for contract renewal system originated from the retain system abroad, which had undergone the development and finally achieved the balance of interests in European countries. The newly revised Sports Law of PRC clearly defines the goal of "marketization and professionalization of competitive sports" which establishes the value guidance for the balance of interests. Under this guidance, the construct of a specialized transfer transaction negotiation platform will be established internally to resolve the deadlock, external sports arbitration will be used to promote the transition and improvement of the CBA exclusive right for contract renewal system through individual cases, and thus the future implementation of the free agent transfer system will break down institutional obstacles.