The former head of China’s official soccer association, Chen Xuyuan, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Hubei province, marking the latest move in China’s ongoing efforts to tackle corruption within its professional football league.
Chen Xuyuan, along with several senior sporting executives, was convicted on Tuesday following an extensive investigation.
This development underscores the challenges facing China’s ambition to become a soccer powerhouse despite President Xi Jinping’s vision for the sport.
Chen is among numerous soccer officials implicated in the Communist Party’s anti-corruption campaign, which also targeted figures like former vice-president Yu Hongchen and former national team coach Li Tie.
As part of his sentence, Chen had his assets confiscated and was permanently stripped of his political rights, a common penalty for disgraced officials.
The court revealed that Chen had accepted substantial monetary rewards totaling $10.6 million out of $11.2 million offered on 217 occasions between 2010 and 2023, describing the amount as “exorbitant.”
The court’s statement emphasized the serious repercussions of Chen’s actions, noting that they had significantly disrupted the football industry’s order and fairness, causing substantial harm to China’s soccer business.
During the sentencing, Chen expressed remorse and apologized to fans nationwide, seeking forgiveness for his actions.
The court acknowledged his cooperation with the investigation and admission of guilt, which factored into the leniency shown in his sentencing.
However, it’s worth noting that China retains the death penalty for certain corruption cases.
In related developments, other individuals implicated in the corruption scandal received varying sentences.
Chen Yongliang, a former vice-secretary general of the soccer association, received a 14-year sentence, while Yu, a former vice-president, was sentenced to 13 years.
Dong Zheng, the former general manager of the Chinese Super League, received an eight-year sentence.
Despite China’s success in individual sports like the Olympics, soccer has posed challenges, with the men’s national team struggling to achieve global competitiveness.
President Xi has been a vocal supporter of soccer development in China, outlining ambitious plans for the national team, including hosting and winning a World Cup by 2050.
However, entrenched corruption and financial setbacks, exacerbated by the Covid pandemic, have hindered progress.
China’s current standing in FIFA World Cup qualifying highlights the ongoing challenges the country faces in realizing its soccer aspirations.
Source-CNN
