On Wednesday, two additional former high-ranking football officials in China were sentenced to prison for bribery, according to court announcements, as part of an extensive anti-corruption initiative within the sport. Liu Yi, the former secretary general of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), received an 11-year prison term and a fine of 3.6 million yuan (approximately $497,000) for his involvement in bribery, as reported by a court in central Hubei province.
In a separate ruling from the same province, Tan Hai, the former head of the CFA’s referees management office, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and fined 200,000 yuan. Both court statements indicated that the assets acquired through these illicit activities would be reclaimed by the state and deposited into the national treasury.
Additionally, another court announced on Tuesday that Qi Jun, the former chief of strategic planning for the CFA, was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined 600,000 yuan for similar offenses.
Since taking office over a decade ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping has led a vigorous campaign against corruption. While supporters argue that this initiative fosters transparent governance, critics contend that it also serves as a strategy for Xi to eliminate political adversaries.
The anti-corruption campaign specifically targeting football began in late 2022 as part of a broader crackdown on the sports sector. In March, former CFA president Chen Xuyuan was sentenced to life imprisonment for accepting bribes, and that same month, former national team coach and Premier League player Li Tie admitted guilt to similar charges.
Xi, an avowed football enthusiast, aspires for China to one day host and win the World Cup, yet the national men's team has struggled to make a mark, currently ranked 90th in the world by FIFA, just above the small Caribbean nation of Curacao.