China's soccer reform has taken an eye-catching step forward as the top sports body pledged on Monday to relinquish its administrative grip on the Chinese Football Association, making the association a full-fledged non-governmental organization.

As part of a comprehensive soccer reform plan issued by the State Council in March, delinking the semi-administrative CFA from the General Administration of Sport of China, the top sports governing body that is now managing the association with its own government officials, has been a key for overhauling the entire soccer management system in China and making it more professional.

The General Administration of Sport of China announced on Monday that it was cutting its grip on the association through a personnel reshuffle, which will see its officials and staff workers withdraw from CFA management. This will make the association an NGO with independent operation and financial systems.