Chen Xuyuan, a former president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), has been handed a life sentence for bribery, as reported by the country’s state media. This verdict is the latest development in an anti-corruption campaign spearheaded by President Xi Jinping, which has targeted various sectors including sports, banking, and the military.
According to the official Xinhua news agency, a court in central Hubei province found Chen guilty of exploiting his positions within the CFA from 2010 to 2023 to facilitate project contracting, investment operations, and sports event arrangements for others in exchange for bribes. The court determined that Chen accepted money and valuables totaling more than 81 million yuan ($11 million).
The court ruling cited by Xinhua highlighted the “tremendous damage” caused by Chen to China’s football endeavors. His severe sentence underscores the government’s commitment to rooting out corruption within the sport, which has long been plagued by allegations of misconduct and has contributed to the national team’s underperformance.
In a televised confession aired as part of an anticorruption documentary series, Chen revealed receiving large sums of money from local football officials just before assuming the chairmanship of the CFA in 2019. Confessions of corruption have become increasingly common on national television since President Xi Jinping initiated the anticorruption campaign.
Chen’s conviction is part of a broader crackdown on corruption within Chinese football, which has seen several high-profile officials investigated and sentenced. Other individuals implicated in corruption cases include former CFA executive deputy secretary-general Chen Yongliang, former Wuhan Football Management Centre director Liu Lei, former CFA vice head Yu Hongchen, and former Chinese Super League general manager Dong Zheng.
Notably, former CFA chairman Xie Yalong and his successor Nan Yong were previously sentenced to prison for accepting bribes in a previous corruption probe in 2012.
Despite President Xi Jinping’s ambition for China to excel in football, the sport has faced significant challenges both on and off the pitch. The recent corruption scandals and the national team’s lackluster performance have cast a shadow over these aspirations. However, with continued efforts to tackle corruption and improve football governance, China remains committed to advancing its footballing ambitions on the global stage.
