Chen Xuyuan, former president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), received a life sentence for involvement in bribery, marking a significant development in China’s anti-corruption efforts within the sports sector.
Following an extensive investigation, Chen Xuyuan and several senior sporting executives were sentenced on Tuesday, as reported by state media.
The court disclosed that Chen admitted to accepting bribes totaling 81 million yuan ($11.2m; £8.9m) from 2010 to 2023 during his tenure as president and chairman of the Shanghai International Port Group. These bribes were in exchange for influencing project contracts and organizing sporting events.
As a result of his actions, Chen Xuyuan had his assets confiscated and was deprived of his political rights for life, a common penalty for disgraced officials in China.
The court condemned Chen’s behavior, highlighting its adverse effects on the integrity of the football industry, both nationally and internationally.
Additionally, three other senior football officials received prison sentences ranging from eight to 14 years for their involvement in corruption, according to state media reports.
This development is part of a broader anti-corruption campaign initiated by President Xi Jinping, targeting various sectors including sport, banking, and the military. In football alone, numerous coaches and players have been investigated.
Earlier this year, Li Tie, former Everton midfielder and ex-head coach of China’s national men’s soccer team, confessed to match-fixing and offering bribes, implicating figures such as Chen Xuyuan.
The detention of prominent football figures has dealt a blow to China’s ambitions to become a major footballing nation, a vision championed by President Xi Jinping.
The corruption scandal has reverberated through the football community, underscoring the ongoing challenges to the sport’s integrity in the country.
