Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Jimisayo Opanuga
Published on 2024-03-26 08:00:54
The former chairman of the Chinese Football Association has been sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes worth $11 million, according to state media reports on Tuesday. This comes as part of a broader crackdown on corruption within the sports industry in China, particularly football.
President Xi Jinping has been leading a campaign against graft that has impacted various sectors, including sports. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has seen around 10 senior leaders and executives, including former national team coach Li Tie, facing corruption charges in recent years. Former chairman Chen Xuyuan was found to have used his positions within the CFA and other organizations to accept illegal payments totaling 81.03 million yuan ($11 million).
The People’s Daily, a newspaper run by the Communist Party, described the size of the bribes accepted by Chen as “particularly huge”, emphasizing that his actions had severely compromised fair competition and order within the national football industry. These corrupt practices have had serious repercussions for Chinese football, undermining the sport’s integrity and credibility.
Xi Jinping, a passionate football enthusiast, has expressed a desire to see China become a powerhouse in the sport, even aiming for the country to host and win the World Cup. However, these ambitions have faced setbacks due to ongoing corruption scandals and disappointing performances on the field. The recent World Cup qualifying draw with Singapore, which led to the resignation and subsequent reversal of the decision by national team captain Zhang Linpeng, epitomizes the challenges facing Chinese football.
Chen Xuyuan, who held various roles in football before becoming CFA chairman in 2019, admitted to accepting bribes in a televised documentary aired in January. In the documentary, he acknowledged the prevalent corruption within Chinese football and emphasized the need for accountability and transparency in the sport. Similarly, former national team coach Li Tie confessed to involvement in bribery schemes to secure coaching positions and manipulate match outcomes.
In addition to Chen Xuyuan and Li Tie, several other sports officials, including former CFA official Chen Yongliang and Chinese Super League general manager Dong Zheng, have been sentenced to prison terms for corruption-related offenses. The former chairman of the China Athletic Association, Yu Hongchen, also received a lengthy sentence for similar crimes, highlighting the widespread nature of corruption in Chinese sports governance.
The case of South Korean footballer Son Jun-ho, who was detained in China on bribery charges, further underscored the pervasive corruption within the football industry. Son’s release and return home have been confirmed by Seoul’s foreign ministry, providing some relief to his international teammates and supporters. The impact of corruption on the integrity of football, both in China and globally, remains a pressing issue that requires continued vigilance and enforcement of ethical standards.
