China's central reform group, captained by Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Friday kicked off a plan to revive soccer, a sport that embarrasses the nation despite it having its roots in an ancient Chinese game.

"We must develop and revitalize soccer to ensure we are a strong nation of sports," according to a statement issued after a meeting of the central reform leading group.

China must overcome its "defective system", which has impeded the development of the sport, and provide better "institutional guarantees" for its development, the statement said.

China has only ever qualified for the World Cup once, in 2002, despite its overwhelming performance at the Olympic Games and other world sport events.

As a soccer fan, President Xi has repeatedly spurred China's footballers to step up.

Previous efforts have also been made for the sake of China's millions of soccer fans. Last November, the Ministry of Education made soccer a compulsory part of physical education class, and promised to help set up more soccer academies.

Soccer departments are encouraged to seize the opportunity, take bold steps and restructure the management system, according to Friday's statement.

China will also look at how other countries have established themselves.

The statement proposed earlier identification of talents and the integration of professional clubs, school teams and amateurs.

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