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Chen Xuyuan (center) during the court hearing

Photo: AFP

Former Chinese Football Association chairman Chen Xuyuan has been sentenced to life in prison for corruption. As the state news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday, four other officials were also sentenced to prison terms.

Accordingly, the court's ruling states that Chen used his various positions between 2010 and 2023 to influence the awarding of projects. In return he received bribes and valuables.

He is said to have accepted a total of 81 million yuan (around 10.4 million euros). The court ruled that Chen had "severely violated the order of fair competition" and "caused enormous damage to football in China," according to Xinhua.

Chinese state media also reported that Chen had committed other financial crimes and helped fix soccer matches. In January, Chen admitted in a television documentary that he had accepted money from people who wanted to ingratiate themselves with him.

14 years in prison for high-ranking ex-sports official

In February 2023 it became known that a disciplinary commission was investigating the then president of the football association. The indictment followed in September. In the course of the trial against Chen, other sports officials were targeted by investigators.

Former head of the National Athletics Association Hong Chen was sentenced to 13 years in prison for accepting bribes. Former senior football official Chen Yongliang was sentenced to 14 years in prison; Dong Zheng, former managing director of the Chinese Football Association Super League Company, to eight years.

The Chinese Super League is the top Chinese football league. The domestic leagues have been struggling with corruption and financial problems for a long time. Fighting alleged corruption is a central focus of President Xi Jinping's government. Ten senior football association executives have been arrested in recent years.

The corruption scandal represents a setback for the goal of the football enthusiast Xi Jinping to make the People's Republic a great football nation.

To date, China has only qualified for a men's World Cup once. In 2002 it was over in the preliminary round after three defeats. The women's national team, on the other hand, is ranked 19th in the world and has already taken part in several world championships. However, the team is not qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games.

mlb/dpa/AP/sid