Former Chief of China's national football association caged for life for bribery

The former Chief of China's national football,Chen Xuyuan,  has been sentenced to life in prison for bribery.

Chen was found guilty through an investigative documentary which highlighted the corrupt activities within the sports industry over the years which had adversely contributed to the dull performance of the national team.

In a startling confession aired during a documentary series on corruption of which he was convicted, Chen revealed receiving substantial bribes the night before assuming the role of chairman of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) in 2019. 

Thus, the court in central Hubei province upon investigations found Chen guilty of leveraging his positions from 2010 to 2023 to facilitate illicit dealings related to project contracts, investments, and sports events accumulating bribes exceeding 81 million yuan ($11.2 million).

Other officials including Chen Yongliang, Yu Hongchen, and Dong Zheng, also received prison sentences ranging from eight to fourteen years for contributing to such corrupt practices. 

According to the court, the verdict highlights ongoing efforts to combat corruption in Chinese sports with past convictions serving as reminders of the authorities' commitment to transparency and accountability.