Former Chinese Football Association president sentenced to life in prison amid wide-ranging crackdown on sports corruption
BEIJING — The former president of the Chinese Football Association has been sentenced to life in prison amid a wide-ranging crackdown on sports corruption.
A Chinese court on Tuesday sentenced officials at a Communist Party-controlled sports program to eight years to life in prison for committing bribery and other financial crimes.
Former CFA chairman Chen Xueyuan was sentenced to life in prison for cooperating with match-fixing and using his various positions to commit financial crimes, state media reported.
Other senior officials sentenced to prison for bribery include former National Sports Association chief Hong Chen (13 years in prison), former soccer official Chen Yongliang (14 years in prison), and former soccer executive Chen Yongliang (14 years in prison). 14 years). He served as CEO of the Chinese Football Association Super League Company for eight years.
The league is primarily supported by real estate companies, which are so overstretched that they are unable to deliver completed apartments or repay debts.
Concerns over corporate finances in the world's second-largest economy have put at risk payments for players who had hoped for further growth in China, and perhaps even international brand names.
China's domestic soccer leagues have long been plagued by corruption and financial instability, while the men's and women's national teams have languished in international rankings despite early successes.
Corruption in sports primarily involves paying players and referees to produce results that benefit gambling syndicates.
There are also allegations that payments were made to secure players' spots in training camps for first-team teams, including the men's national team, which is currently ranked 88th in the FIFA rankings. The Chinese women's team placed 19th.
Economic slowdown and government involvement in sport, culture and private business are straining the chances of success in these goals.
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