Former soccer president prosecuted on suspicion of bribery
By Cao Yin | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-09-26 20:48
Chen Xuyuan, former president of the Chinese Football Association, has been prosecuted on suspicion of bribery, a statement issued by the Hubei Provincial People's Procuratorate said on Tuesday.
The prosecution was recently initiated by the procuratorate in Huangshi, a city in Hubei, after the provincial anti-corruption authorities concluded a disciplinary investigation on Chen and handed the case over to the procuratorial department, according to the statement posted on the provincial procuratorate's account on Sina Weibo.
The Huangshi prosecutors revealed that Chen made use of various work positions, including as chairman of the Shanghai International Port Group and president of the CFA, to seek illicit profits for others and then accepted "extremely large" bribes in return.
Chen should be held criminally liable for the crime of bribery in line with the law, prosecutors added.
Chen, 67, a native of Shanghai, started his first job in 1973 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1979. He was placed under investigation for suspected serious violations of Party discipline and the law in February.
Before Chen was prosecuted, Li Tie, former head coach of the Chinese national men's soccer team, had already been indicted on bribery charges in August.
Li, 46, a native of Shenyang, Liaoning province, was a former professional soccer player. The CFA confirmed the signing of a contract with Li for him to coach the national team until 2026, but four months later he submitted his resignation.
In November last year, he was investigated by a discipline inspection and supervision group at the General Administration of Sport of China, which was dispatched by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, as well as the Hubei provincial commission of supervision.
The investigation triggered a chain reaction and soon a dozen soccer officials were also investigated, including the CFA's former president Chen and former vice-president Li Yuyi.
