China’s sweeping anti-corruption drive within its football industry has resulted in the imprisonment of two more high-ranking officials. Liu Yi, the former secretary-general of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), received an 11-year prison sentence and a fine of 3.6 million yuan ($497,000) for accepting bribes. Meanwhile, Tan Hai, the ex-head of the CFA’s referees management office, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison alongside a 200,000 yuan fine.
Authorities announced that all illicit gains would be confiscated and returned to the state treasury. This follows Tuesday’s conviction of Qi Jun, the CFA’s former strategic planning chief, who was sentenced to seven years in prison with a 600,000 yuan penalty for similar offenses.
This latest action is part of President Xi Jinping’s relentless anti-corruption campaign, which has permeated various sectors since its inception over a decade ago. The crackdown on football corruption began in earnest in late 2022, targeting prominent figures such as former CFA chief Chen Xuyuan, who received a life sentence in March, and Li Tie, a former national coach and Premier League player, who also pleaded guilty to bribery charges.
Despite President Xi’s aspirations for China to host and eventually win a FIFA World Cup, the men’s national team continues to struggle on the global stage. These developments underscore a determined effort to overhaul the governance of Chinese football, restore integrity, and pave the way for a cleaner and more competitive sports industry.
