Former China football head to go on trial Monday

By AFP January 28, 2024 | 07:27 pm PT

China's Wei Shihao (number 20) passes the ball during the Asian Cup group stage game with Qatar on Jan. 22, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa

The former head of China's top sporting body Chen Xuyuan is to stand trial for bribery on Monday, Beijing's state media said, as an anti-corruption drive sweeps up once-major players in the sport.

Chen - who as president of the China Football Association (CFA) once promised to turn a page on the corruption scandals that have plagued the sport - was placed under investigation last February for "serious violations of discipline and the law".

Chen was indicted in September for corruption, confessing in the TV documentary to having accepted large sums from those wishing to get in his good graces.

This month he appeared in a televised documentary in which former Chinese national football team coach Li Tie said he paid Chen two million yuan ($278,600) in bribes to secure the top job.

"Fans can accept the fact that the state of Chinese football is bad," Chen said.

"But they cannot forgive corruption," he said.

"I would like to deeply apologize to all Chinese fans."

Around 10 senior leaders and executives of the CFA have also been brought down in recent years, including Chen.

He goes on trial Monday at the Intermediate People's Court of Huangshi City in central China's Hubei Province, the state-run Xinhua news agency said, citing the court.