Bribery Charges: Former Chinese Football Chief Receives Life Sentence
Former president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), Chen Xuyuan, has been sentenced to life in prison for bribery, according to the country’s state media.
In January, he pleaded guilty to accepting bribes worth a total of 81 million yuan ($11.2m; £8.9m).
An anti-corruption crackdown led by President Xi Jinping has targeted various sectors including sport, banking, and the military.
In football, more than a dozen coaches and players have been investigated.
The trial at the Intermediate People’s Court of Huangshi in central China revealed Chen’s illicit activities from 2010 to 2023, including his earlier role as the president and chairman of Shanghai International Port Group.
Prosecutors said Chen accepted money and valuables in exchange for his help in obtaining project contracts and arranging sporting events.
The court ruling stated that he had caused “tremendous damage” to China’s football cause, according to the state-controlled Xinhua news agency.
State media also reported that three other senior football officials were sentenced on Tuesday to between eight and 14 years in prison for corruption.
Earlier this year, former Everton midfielder and former head coach of China’s national men’s soccer team, Li Tie, confessed to match-fixing and offering bribes to individuals, including Chen, to secure China’s top coaching job.
China’s foreign ministry confirmed that South Korea’s Son Jun-ho, who played for Shandong Taishan, was held in police custody in relation to a bribery case. South Korea’s foreign ministry stated this week that he had been released from detention.
In the past, President Xi has expressed his ambition to transform China into a major footballing nation. In 2011, he outlined his ‘three wishes’ for Chinese football: to qualify for the World Cup again, to host the tournament, and to one day win the trophy.
Over the past decade, clubs in China’s Super League have spent large sums of money to attract some of the world’s top players, resulting in clubs accumulating debts. In response, the CFA announced a salary cap in 2020, aiming to focus investment on developing homegrown talent rather than importing international stars.
Now, only a small number of foreign players remain in the league.
Recent detentions of major football figures have dealt another blow to the country’s football ambitions.
Despite these challenges, domestic football remains popular in China, and Mr. Chen’s corruption scandal has shocked fans.
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