The former president of the Chinese Football Association has been sentenced to life in prison for accepting more than $10 million in bribes, the country's state media reported on Tuesday, following the biggest corruption investigation in soccer in years.
Chen Shuyuan's sentence came after an investigation into more than a dozen senior football officials since late 2022. Citing the court's ruling, state news agency Xinhua reported that Chen had caused “tremendous damage” to Chinese football.
The sport has long battled corruption, with fans blaming corruption for the national team's persistent underperformance. In 2012, two former presidents of the same soccer association were each sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for bribery.
Chen, 67, used to work on the docks in Shanghai when he was younger. He eventually became head of the Shanghai International Port Company in the 2010s and became chairman of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) in 2019.
According to Xinhua news agency, a court in central Hubei province found that from 2010 to 2023, Mr. Chen used various positions, including those related to the CFA, to impeach others in matters related to project contracts, investment operations, and the arrangement of sporting events. was recognized as having supported the
In return, Chen received cash and valuables worth more than 81 million yuan ($11.22 million).
In a state TV documentary series on corruption that aired in January, Chen confessed to accepting bribes, and on the eve of his appointment as CFA president, he received a backpack containing cash from two local soccer officials. I explained the incident.
Confessions of corruption have become common on state television since President Xi Jinping took power and launched a broad anti-corruption campaign.
“They came to my room, casually put their backpacks on my sofa, and said, 'Congratulations, President Chen, we hope you will take better care of us.'” He said.
“When we asked what they were serving, they said it was just a tradition and that everyone did it this way.”
Regarding Chen's sentence, the ruling Communist Party's official newspaper People's Daily said there was no end point to the fight against corruption.
“The systemic corruption in soccer is by no means a coincidence,” the newspaper wrote. “It is essential to trace back the cause and address the symptoms and root causes.”
Other football officials investigated for corruption include former CFA deputy secretary-general Chen Yongliang, former director of the Wuhan Football Management Center Liu Lei, former CFA deputy director Yu Hongcheng and former general manager Dong Zhen. etc. are included. Belongs to the Chinese Super League.
Chen was sentenced to 14 years in prison, Yu 13 years in prison, Dong eight years in prison and Liu two-and-a-half years in prison, state media said on Tuesday.
Former men's national team coach Li Tie and former CFA vice president Du Zhaocai have also been accused of corruption and have not yet been sentenced.
