Beijing, April 4 (Zhongxin Net) -- "It is necessary to shift the focus of football work to youth football and smooth the mechanism for training football talents and further education. Du Zhaocai said at the annual work conference of key cities for football development held on March 1.

Du Zhaocai at the annual work conference of key cities for football development. Image source: Chinese Football Association

However, less than 10 days later, a report on Du Zhaocai's investigation appeared on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervision Commission today.

"Du Zhaocai, member of the leading party group and deputy director of the State General Administration of Sports, is suspected of serious violations of discipline and law, and is currently under disciplinary review and supervision and investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervision Commission."

Spoke generously nine days ago

Nearly 150 people, including the heads of relevant departments and bureaus of the State General Administration of Sports, leaders of the Chinese Football Association and heads of relevant departments, attended the annual work conference of key cities for football development held nine days ago. Du Zhaocai attended the meeting and took the stage to speak.

He said that youth football is the cornerstone of China's football development and revitalization, and it is also a basic and strategic project to build a strong sports country. It is necessary to shift the focus of football work to youth football, and smooth the mechanism for training football talents and further education.

He also revealed that by 2025, the Chinese Football Association plans to build one national youth academy, and build five regional-level high-level football reserve talent bases and 1 men's and women's football youth training centers with provinces and cities.

After the meeting, Du Zhaocai, who was a little haggard at the time, also came to the participating media reporter area to briefly greet: "These tasks take time, please." ”

Chinese football in the trough does take time.

Nine days ago, at the annual work conference of key cities for football development, Du Zhaocai took the stage to speak. Photo by China News Network reporter Bian Liqun

He switched from athletics to football 6 years ago

Public reports show that Du Zhaocai was a former athlete of the Jilin ice hockey team and Bayi ice hockey team, and studied at the Shenyang Sports Institute after retiring. In March 2002, he became the deputy director of the Sports Bureau of Liaoning Province.

Before taking charge of football, Du Zhaocai served as the deputy director of the Handball and Softball Sports Management Center of the State General Administration of Sports. In January 2009, he was transferred to the Athletics Management Center of the General Administration of Sports of the People's Republic of China as the director and was elected to the IAAF Council.

Six years ago, Du Zhaocai entered the field of football and was involved in football management. In June 6, he became the Party Secretary of the Chinese Football Association. In October 2017, Du Zhaocai officially became the deputy director of the State General Administration of Sports.

At the 2022th East Asian Football Federation Congress held in April 4, Du Zhaocai was elected president of the East Asian Football Federation as the only candidate for a four-year term. However, at the recent AFC Congress, Du Zhaocai won the bottom of the 10-4 election, declaring his election to the FIFA Council of Directors unsuccessful.

According to the website of the General Administration of Sports, Du Zhaocai is responsible for football-related work, docking with FIFA, AFC, the State Council Inter-ministerial Joint Conference on Football Reform and Development, etc., responsible for the training, participation and bidding and preparation of national teams at all levels of football and holding various events in China, as well as youth football and mass football; Responsible for the training, participation in athletics, swimming, synchronized swimming, diving and other summer sports and the preparation of various events in China; and other tasks assigned by comrades. Directing the Football Association, liaising with the Football Development Foundation; He is in charge of the athletics center and the swimming center, and guides the work of the athletics association.

Infographic: Du Zhaocai (left) and Chen Jiayuan. Image source: Osports All Sports Images

He has repeatedly denounced football corruption

In his ordinary work, Du Zhaocai is relatively "low-key" and rarely gives interviews to the media in recent years. His speech at the public meeting was not much, and the content basically focused on the construction of key cities for football development and football anti-corruption.

At the National Football Industry Psiphon Discipline and Anti-Doping Work Conference held in August 2022, Du Zhaocai stressed that the Psiphon discipline and doping issues, especially the "fake gambling black" problem, are a concentrated embodiment of unhealthy trends in the football industry and a cancer that affects the healthy development of football.

"The vast number of football practitioners should fully understand the special significance of Psiphon discipline and anti-doping work to football work, thoroughly investigate and analyze problems, take resolute and effective measures to promote Psiphon discipline and anti-doping work, and crack down on the slag of 'fake gambling black' in the football field with a zero-tolerance attitude, create a clean and healthy football style, and promote the healthy development of Chinese football." Du Zhaocai said.

Infographic: Du Zhaocai (middle) at a FA meeting. Image source: Osports All Sports Images

Just about half a month ago, the Chinese Football Association held a meeting of all cadres. At the meeting, Du Zhaocai said that in the face of the current outstanding problems in the football industry, we must have the courage to face the problems head-on.

"Deeply absorb the lessons of a series of recent corruption cases, painstakingly think of the pain, learn from the case, promote reform with the case, find out the causes, plug the loopholes, improve the system and mechanism, have the courage to take on responsibilities and dare to struggle, properly manage and solve the bad tendencies and negative slack and other ideological problems existing in the association, strengthen confidence, summon up full energy, change the style of work, break through difficult points, regroup, lie down and try courage, and strive to open a new long march of Chinese football."

On February 2 this year, Chen Jiayuan, chairman of the Chinese Football Association and deputy secretary of the Party Committee, reported that he was investigated. Later, Du Zhaocai presided over the meeting, emphasizing that the Party Committee of the Chinese Football Association and the Chinese Football Association firmly support and resolutely support the discipline inspection and supervision authorities in reviewing and investigating Chen Jiayuan.

However, 46 days after Chen Jiayuan's report was investigated, Du Zhaocai himself appeared in the report. (End)