life sentence for corruption –

Life imprisonment sentence for the former number one of the Chinese Football Federation (CFA). Chen Xuyuan was convicted of corruption by a court in Hubei province, Beijing’s official media reported. The man was accused of having used his position, including in other organizations, between 2010 and 2023, to influence the assignment of projects, investment operations and the organization of sporting events and of having received bribes for over 81 million of yuan (the equivalent of over 10 million euros).

For the court – we read in the reasons for the very harsh sentence – Chen “seriously compromised fair competition” and caused “enormous damage” to sport. The seizure of assets was also ordered. All in an Asian giant where leader Xi Jinping is a football fan, a world often hit in China by accusations of corruption. And which has once once more ended up forgotten, to the advantage of Saudi Arabia, following years of crazy spending and leading names in European football brought to the East.