After Xi Jinping came into office in November 2012, a transition of China’s governance structures occurred in which decision-making powers shifted to newly established central party organs. A new layer of power was created by establishing new Central Leading Groups (also called Leading Small Groups) such as the National Security Committee. This centralisation turn in Chinese power structures is not without consequences on the national football governance structures. In February 2015, one of these new groups approved The Overall Chinese Football Reform and Development Programme, one month prior to official announcement. In this reform programme the reorganisation of football governance structures is considered to be one of the crucial requirements if a successful development of national football is to be achieved.