BEIJING — Newly-built football pitches in China will be subsidized by the central government, according to an official document issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Sport and Chinese Football Association on July 30.

Newly-built 11-a-side football pitches will be subsidized by 2 million yuan (about $290,600) each, and newly-built 5-a-sides and 7-a-sides will be subsidized by up to 1 million yuan each, according to the document.

China started its football reform in 2015 to boost its competitiveness. In recent years, football has been increasingly popular as China's professional leagues gained momentum. However, China still lags behind in terms of football facilities compared to other countries where football is well-developed such as Germany or France.

The subsidies will enable football lovers easier access to more and better football pitches, while cutting down on their operating costs.