A court in central China's Hubei province on Tuesday sentenced former Chinese Football Association (CFA) chief Chen Xuyuan to life in prison for abuse of power and taking more than $11 million in bribes.
This is reported by Xinhua, Ukrinform reports.
As the investigation established, for at least 13 years, from 2010 to 2023, Chen used his high positions, including positions in the management of the CFA, to facilitate interested individuals and companies in obtaining contracts for the implementation of projects for the construction of sports facilities and holding sports events and helped third parties in career advancement and appointment to higher positions.
The court's ruling said that while leading the CFA, Chen had corrupted Chinese football, seriously undermining the principle of the integrity of sports competitions and causing enormous damage to the development of national football.
In particular, by circumventing the rules, the official lobbied for several football clubs and provincial football associations to receive the rights to hold sports events, and also, using his power, influenced judges to make decisions in favor of certain football clubs and promoted teams in the national football league.
In return, he received money and valuables, which accumulated over 81 million yuan (approximately $11.4 million) over the course of time.
Bribery of a high-ranking official in such amounts is considered a particularly serious crime in China and is punishable by the highest degree - the death penalty. However, the court took into account that Chen cooperated with the investigation and returned the ill-gotten gains, so he imposed a lighter sentence of life imprisonment.
By court decision, the former official was deprived of political rights for life, all his personal property will be confiscated, and illegal income will be collected and transferred to the state treasury.
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