The former head of the Chinese Football Association Chen Xuyuan has been charged with corruption.
Chinese state media reported this on Tuesday (September 26, 2023), citing the People’s Procuratorate in the central Chinese province of Hubei. Chen is suspected of accepting bribes in his various positions in the sports association and at a company.
A disciplinary commission had previously completed its investigations into the case, the reports continued. The authorities informed Chen of his rights and listened to his point of view.
Big blow for China’s football
In mid-February it became known that a commission and the supervisory bodies of the sports administration were investigating the then president of the football association for corruption. At that time, the accusation was of “serious disciplinary violations,” which usually meant allegations of corruption.
The accusations were a major blow to China’s football. State and party leader Xi Jinping is a fan himself and wants to make the country a great football nation. In the months following the investigation into Chen, other football officials also came under the scrutiny of investigators.