The former number one of the Chinese Football Federation, Chen Xuyuan, was sentenced to life imprisonment for corruption, the latest illustrious victim of the crackdown promoted by President Xi Jinping against malfeasance which in recent months has mainly targeted finance and sport , starting from football.
The Huangshi Intermediate People's Court, in Hubei province, found him guilty of "accepting bribes", reported the People's Daily, the voice of the Communist Party.
Between 2010 and 2023, Chen took advantage of his positions at the Federation and other bodies to "illegally accept sums of money from other people totaling 81.03 million yuan (11 million dollars)", causing "serious consequences to the national football industry".
The former president of the Football Federation appeared in January in a documentary broadcast on state TV used as an anti-corruption warning, confessing to having accepted money from those who wanted to gain his favor: "The fans can accept the fact that the situation of Chinese football is very bad, but they can't condone corruption," he said.
President Xi is a football fan and has the declared dream of hosting an edition of the World Cup in China, possibly winning it.
Despite enormous investments, the sector is in terrible condition.
The national team continues to accumulate unsuccessful results: at the last Asian Cup held in January, the Red Dragons were eliminated in the group stage.
While the Super League - the Mandarin Serie A - is grappling with corporate bankruptcies, in the wake of the real estate crisis that has brought down giants such as Evergrande.
In recent years, around 10 senior managers of the Football Federation have been removed, including Chen.
And the list should also include that of former national coach Li Tie, very close to Chen, at risk of conviction.
Another case that has shaken Chinese football is that of South Korean international Son Jun-ho, arrested last May "on charges of accepting bribes from non-state employees".
Seoul's Foreign Ministry reported Monday that Son had been released and returned home, bringing closure to a story with many dark aspects.
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