A Chinese courtroom on Monday sentenced a former high official of the nation’s soccer affiliation to 11 years in jail for taking bribes, the newest determine to fall foul of a sweeping crackdown on graft in sports activities. Li Yuyi, a former vice chairman of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), was sentenced by a courtroom in Jingzhou, Hubei province. He was additionally fined $140,000, whereas belongings he obtained by way of corruption could be confiscated and turned over to the state, the courtroom mentioned.
In March, Li pleaded responsible to utilizing his positions within the CFA to build up cash and presents value over $1.7 million between 2004 and 2021.
Li served as vice chairman of the CFA from 2015 to 2019. Before that, he was head of Shanghai’s sports activities administration.
Under President Xi Jinping, authorities have cracked down laborious on graft in China’s sports activities business, particularly in soccer.
Xi is a self-confessed soccer fanatic who has mentioned he desires of his nation internet hosting and profitable the World Cup.
But that ambition seems additional away than ever after repeated corruption scandals and years of disappointing outcomes on the pitch.
In March, former CFA head Chen Xuyuan was sentenced to life in jail for accepting bribes value greater than $11 million.
The identical month, the previous head coach of China’s nationwide staff and ex-Everton midfielder Li Tie pleaded responsible to accepting over $10.7 million in bribes and serving to to repair matches.
And in May, state broadcaster CCTV reported that Gou Zhongwen, former director of the General Administration of Sport of China, was beneath investigation for corruption.
Around 10 excessive degree CFA officers have come beneath investigation in current months.
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