What’s new: A former president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) has pleaded guilty to accepting more than 81 million yuan ($11.3 million) in bribes while on trial in Central China’s Hubei province.
The prosecution accused Chen Xuyuan of taking advantage of his positions including chief of the CFA and president of Shanghai International Port Group Co. Ltd. for personal gain from 2010 to 2023, according to a statement released by Huangshi Intermediate People’s Court after the trial on Monday.
Chen allegedly accepted money and valuables in exchange for his help with obtaining project contracts and arranging sporting events, prosecutors said.
The court did not disclose a date for Chen’s sentencing.
What’s more: Chen is one of more than a dozen senior CFA officials who have come under investigation for corruption since November 2022.
Chen, a 67-year-old Shanghai native, was the CFA’s first full-time president in the organization’s almost 70-year history. While president, he spearheaded a “decommercialization” campaign of professional soccer clubs across the country.
Earlier this month, a former head coach of China’s national men’s soccer team Li Tie confessed to fixing matches and offering bribes to people, including Chen, to get the top coaching job.
Contact reporter Kelly Wang (jingzhewang@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)
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