China intensified its crackdown on corruption within the sports industry on Monday, handing down severe sentences to two former senior officials involved in the football sector.
Li Yuyi, a former vice-chairman of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), was sentenced to 11 years in prison for accepting bribes worth over 12 million yuan (US$1.7 million) between 2004 and 2021. In addition to his CFA role, Li held influential positions in Shanghai’s Jinshan district and the Chinese Super League Company. The court found that he abused his power to favor football clubs facing relegation and to secure construction projects.
In a separate case, Fu Xiang, a former director of the Wuhan Football Association, was also sentenced to 11 years in prison for embezzlement and bribery.
These convictions are the latest in a series of high-profile cases targeting the football industry. The most severe sentence to date was handed down to Chen Xuyuan, former CFA chairman, who received a life sentence for accepting bribes worth 81.03 million yuan. Other notable cases include former CFA officials Chen Yongliang, Yu Hongchen, and Dong Zheng, who also received significant prison terms.
The broader crackdown on sports corruption extends beyond football, with investigations and penalties affecting officials in various sports. However, the football sector has been a primary focus due to the severity of the allegations, which include bribery, match-fixing, and abuse of power.
Former national football team coach Li Tie is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to accepting over US$10 million in bribes. Additionally, an investigation into Ma Chengquan, a former chairman of the Chinese Super League Company, is ongoing.
The Chinese government’s determined efforts to root out corruption in the sports industry aim to restore public trust and ensure fair competition.
