A former president of China's football association has been sentenced to life in prison for accepting more than $10 million in bribes, according to the country's state media. Chen Xuyuan, 67, was found guilty of bringing 'tremendous damage' to Chinese football by accepting money and valuables worth over 81 million yuan ($11.22m) during his tenure from 2010 to 2023.
The sentencing of Chen Xuyuan is part of a broader anti-corruption probe that has targeted more than a dozen high-level football officials since late 2022. The court ruling in central Hubei province highlighted how Chen had used his various positions, including his role as the head of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), to aid others in matters related to project contracting, investment operations, and sports events arrangements.
