China News Service, March 26 (Xinhua) On the morning of March 26, 2024, the Intermediate People's Court of Huangshi City, Hubei Province publicly announced the verdict in the first instance of the bribery case of Chen Xuyuan, the former chairman of the Chinese Football Association. The defendant Chen Xuyuan was sentenced to life imprisonment for accepting bribes and deprived of political rights. Life, and all personal property shall be confiscated; illegal gains from bribery shall be recovered in accordance with the law and turned over to the state treasury.

Video: The first-instance verdict of Chen Xuyuan, former chairman of the Chinese Football Association, in the bribery case: Chen Xuyuan was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Source: CCTV News Client

　　After trial, it was found that: from 2010 to 2023, the defendant Chen Xuyuan successively took advantage of his position as president and chairman of Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd., leader of the preparatory group for the reelection of the Chinese Football Association, and chairman of the Chinese Football Association. Facilitating the formation of authority, status, and providing assistance to relevant units and individuals in matters such as project contracting, investment and operation, event arrangements, etc., illegally accepting money from others totaling more than 81.03 million yuan, of which 4 million yuan was not actually obtained. .

　　The Huangshi Intermediate People's Court held that the defendant Chen Xuyuan's behavior constituted the crime of accepting bribes, and the amount was particularly huge. During his tenure at the Chinese Football Association, he sought improper benefits for multiple football clubs and local football associations in matters such as event arrangements, league promotions, referee penalties, etc., seriously damaging the order of fair competition in the football field and the industry's ecological environment, and causing serious consequences to the national football industry. Damage; seeking job promotion or adjustment for others, with severe punishment at discretion. In view of the fact that his bribery of 4 million yuan was an attempt; after arriving at the case, he truthfully confessed his crime, and took the initiative to explain some of the facts of the bribery crime that the supervisory authority has not grasped; he exposed other people's criminal behavior, which was verified to be true, and had meritorious service; he pleaded guilty and repented, actively returned the stolen goods, and accepted bribes All the stolen money has been recovered and he can be given a lighter punishment in accordance with the law. The court then made the above judgment.

Accepted bribes as many as 217 times in 13 years

　　On January 29 this year, the Intermediate People's Court of Huangshi City, Hubei Province held a first-instance public hearing on the bribery case of Chen Xuyuan, former deputy secretary and chairman of the Party Committee of the Chinese Football Association. Chen Xuyuan was accused of accepting bribes of more than 81.03 million yuan. He accepted bribes for a long time and frequently. He accepted bribes 217 times in 13 years. At present, all the stolen money has been recovered and returned.

　　During the trial, Chen Xuyuan expressed his guilt and repentance. In the final statement, he bowed 90 degrees for nearly 10 seconds and apologized to the fans across the country: "I have no face to face the fans. Here I publicly apologize to the fans across the country, sincerely say I'm sorry to the fans, and hope to be forgiven by the fans. "

Zeng said the problems in the football industry must be addressed

　　Chen Xuyuan took office as chairman of the Chinese Football Association in August 2019. He is the first full-time chairman of the Football Association and the first association chairman from a non-sports management department system.

　　Before serving as chairman of the Chinese Football Association, Chen Xuyuan served as party secretary and chairman of Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd.

　　Chen Xuyuan himself once said: "The problems with style and discipline in the football industry have reached a point where they must be strictly grasped, rectified, and cleaned up."

　　However, the problems in the football industry are not limited to the style and discipline of the game. He himself is also the target of rectification.

　　On February 14, 2023, the website of the Hubei Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision notified that Chen Xuyuan was under investigation. On September 26 of the same year, the Hubei Provincial People's Procuratorate reported that Chen Xuyuan was suspected of accepting bribes. The investigation by the Hubei Provincial Supervisory Committee was concluded and transferred to the procuratorial organ for review and prosecution.

He accepted bribes the night before he took office as chairman of the Football Association.

　　According to the anti-corruption feature film "Continuous Efforts and Deep Advancement", the night before Chen Xuyuan was elected as the chairman of the Chinese Football Association, two local football association leaders knocked on his door one after another and each gave him 300,000 yuan to "pay homage to the dock." Please ask him to take good care of me.

　　"Come into my room, put your backpack on my sofa, and say, Chairman Chen, congratulations, congratulations to you, and I hope I can take care of you. Then I said something, and he said it's the old rules, and we all do the same." Chen Xuyuan confessed road.

　　The feature film also revealed that over the past few years, Chen Xuyuan has accepted tens of millions of yuan in money from many clubs. In addition, he also accepted 2 million yuan from Li Tie to ensure that the latter would "be promoted" as the national football coach.

　　Chen Xuyuan choked up and confessed: "Fans can tolerate the backwardness of Chinese football, but they cannot forgive corruption. As the chairman of the Football Association, I bear the main responsibility. I want to deeply apologize to the fans across the country. I was wrong, and I really I think I was wrong, and I regret myself very much. There is no regret medicine to buy. If there is regret medicine to buy, I am willing to buy it back with my life, and I will never do such a thing again." (End)