August 19 – China has jailed yet another leading official for bribery as the crackdown into football corruption shows no sign of abating.
Li Yuyi (pictured), former vice president of the Chinese Football Association, has been sentenced to 11 years and fined 1 million yuan ($139,579.03), according to state news agency Xinhua, citing a court ruling.
On the same day Fu Xiang, formerly executive vice president and secretary-general of the Wuhan Football Association, was also handed an 11-year sentence for embezzlement and taking and giving bribes.
Prosecutors had accused Li of abusing his previously held positions at both the Chinese FA and the Chinese Football Association Super League Company between 2004 and 2021 by taking bribes.
The probe concluded he had received money and valuables worth over $1.69 million in return for help rendered on various issues.
The court’s verdict follows a string of probes into more than a dozen high-level football figures since late 2022. Confessions of corruption have become a common feature on national television since President Xi Jinping came to power.
In March, former Chinese FA president Chen Xuyuan was sentenced to life while Chen Yongliang received 14 years, Yu Hongchen 13 years and Dong Zheng eight years – all of them having held senior positions within the domestic game.
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